The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Thursday, Dec. 12, passed a resolution recommending the declaration of the entire Negros Occidental under a state of calamity following Kanlaon Volcano’s explosive eruption on Monday.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he has endorsed the resolution to the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan that is expected to approve it in a special session on Friday.
The declaration of a state of calamity in urgent and necessary to enable the Negros Occidental provincial government to use its P78 million quick response fund for the ongoing massive evacuation, Lacson said.
It will also allow other local government units willing to help the affected areas use their quick response funds, he said
“In fact many of our LGUs have been asking when we can declare this state of calamity because they would like to help those affected LGUs,” Lacson said.
33,806 TO BE EVACUATED
He pointed out that a minimum of at least 33,806 individuals living within 6-kilometer radius from the summit of the volcano have to be evacuated.
“There are different figures, but at the minimum 33,806 individuals will be affected,” Lacson said.
As of Thursday afternoon 12,742 were already in evacuation centers in Negros Occidental and the number was still rising, Irene Bel Ploteña, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) head, said.
There were 9,536 evacuees in La Castellana, 140 in Bago City, 721 in Pontevedra and 2,345 in La Carlota City, she said.
The Canlaon City Police Station said 863 families with 2,819 individuals had also evacuated in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, the Philippine News Agency reported.
NATIONAL GOV’T HELP
Lacson said that definitely Negros Occidental’s resources will not be enough that is why Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro “mentioned to me that we will now be going to the President to ask him for additional funds to take care of our affected constituents…So we are hoping for the best.”
“Sec. Teodoro understands the predicament of the LGUs here in Negros” he added.
The Department of Social Wefare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, also immediately came to Negros and assured continuous help, Lacson said.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) upgraded the alert status of Kanlaon to Level 3 on Monday following its eruption.
La Castellana, La Carlota, Pontevedra, Bago, Valladolid, San Enrique, Hinigaran, and Binalbagan have been affected by the volcano explosion, the PDRRMC resolution recommending a state of calamity said.
“Due to the forced evacuation mandated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), these individuals are unable to remain in their homes. They face not only respiratory health problems resulting from ashfall but also the hazards associated with contaminated food and water resources,” it said.
PRICE FREEZE
The resolution asked the SP to adopt the following in its approved declaration of a state of calamity:
*Set a portion of the calamity fund to immediately assist those affected by the Kanlaon eruption;
*Order a price freeze on basic necessities and prime commodities in the entire Negros Occidental in order to curb predatory pricing by businesses and hoarding of goods;
*Provide that funds be programmed or reprogrammed for the repair and upgrading of public infrastructures and facilities;
*Allow the use of the Quick Response Fund from the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management funds for relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction, recovery, and other necessary works or services; and
*Grant alternative modes for the efficient procurement of emergency works, goods, or services needed to respond quickly .
Lacson said he is calling on businessmen, especially those selling face masks not to take advantage of the situation.
“In fact by keeping the price where it is, we are actually helping the victims of the eruption of Kanlaon,” Lacson said.
DAMAGE
Meanwhile, an Office of the Provincial Agriculturist initial report states that the damage caused by the volcano’s eruption to rice and corn in La Carlota City and La Castellana was P601,279 on Thursday.*