First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos led the distribution of P17.5 million worth of cash relief to 1,750 families affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano in La Castellana and Bago City in Negros Occidental on Saturday, June 15.
Also distributed were food packs and hygiene kits, La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Mangilimutan said on Saturday.
The First Lady was accompanied by Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Rep. Emilio Yulo III (Neg. Occ., 5th District).
Mangilimutan said she was also assured of assistance for residents who lost their livelihoods because of the Kanlaon Volcano eruption.
She thanked the First Lady, Abalos, Gatchalian, Benitez, Yulo, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Melquiades Robles, and Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson for their support.
“My heart is full of gratitude and appreciation not only for your help but also for your presence. We have felt that we are not alone in this battle,” she told the officials who visited her town.
“We can feel the love,” she said.
Distributed on Saturday was P10,000 per family under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
There were 1,500 beneficiaries from La Castellana and 250 from Bago City, the DSWD said.
Aside from the cash assistance, food and non-food assistance are also being provided, it added.
The Kanlaon Volcano eruption has caused P68,497,436 in damage to crops and fisheries in Bago City, La Carlota City and La Castellana town, OIC Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola said earlier.
Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 2 due to increased unrest, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.*