More than 1,300 residents of La Carlota City and La Castellana in Negros Occidental displaced by Kanlaon Volcano’s unrest who have been living in school buildings turned into evacuation centers for about six months began decamping on Friday, June 13, to make way for the opening of classes.
Those from outside the 6-kilometer danger zone were allowed to go home, while those from within will be relocated to non-school evacuation sites.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council issued a memorandum directing 11 schools used as evacuation centers in La Carlota City and La Castellana in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Occidental to be vacated in preparation for the resumption of face-to-face classes for school year 2025-2026.
Five schools are in Calaon City, four in La Castellana and two in La Carlota.
The Regional Task Force Kanlaon, the Local Government Units (LGUs) and the Regional Incident Management Team are instructed to facilitate the safe relocation of displaced families and ensure the immediate restoration of school facilities to operational condition, Assistant Secretary Cesar Idio, Office of Civil Defense deputy administrator for operations, said in the memorandum issued June 8.
Relocation sites must be situated outside the 6-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), Idio said.
He also directed the cleanup, sanitation, and rehabilitation of school facilities in preparation for the resumption of face-to-face classes.
La Carlota City announced that after nearly six months of displacement, a total of 897 internally displaced persons (IDPs), representing 254 families, returned home on Friday.
These La Carlota City IDPs are from areas located outside the 6-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) in sitios Nailab, Tinin-awan, Gama, and Mansibanga in Barangay Ara-al; Sitio Jamindang in Barangay Haguimit; and sitios Labinsawan, Bais, and Batacon in Barangay Yubo.
During their displacement they were housed in the City Evacuation Center, La Carlota South Elementary School II (South II), La Carlota North Elementary School (LCNES), and the La Carlota City College-Cubay Campus.
The decision to begin the decampment process was based on the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council during its meeting on June 10 in order to allow resumption of regular classes in schools used as evacuation camps, La Carlota City Mayor Rex Jalandoon said.
However, 232 IDPs or 64 families from Sitio Guintubdan in Barangay Ara-al will not yet be returning home, the city government announced.
These families, who were primarily sheltered at South II and LCNES, will be transferred to the City Evacuation Center and City Gymnasium 1 for continued safety and support, it said.
Local authorities are monitoring the situation and providing assistance to those still displaced, while supporting the reintegration of returning families into their communities.
In La Castellana 150 families with 463 members who have been living at St. Vincent’s High School , a private school, were relocated on Friday to the Brgy Mansalanao covered court, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) head John de Asis said.
They are residents from within the 6-kilometer danger zone in Brgy Mansalanao.
The Negros Occidental provincial government sent three provincial buses and other vehicles to assist in the transfer of the La Castellana evacuees, Provincial Administrator Rayfando Diaz said.
The provincial government also provided 80 modular tents, he added.
There have been 1,329 displaced families with 4,210 Individuals living in evacuation centers in La Castellana for about six months, de Asis said.
They are from the 6-kilometer danger zone so they will not be allowed to return home but will be relocated to other areas, like the barangay covered courts, he said.
De Asis said some who live in houses near the road will be allowed to go home.
More evacuees from barangays Sag-ang, Biak na Bato and Masulog in La Castellana will be relocated from schools to barangay covered courts and to tents in open spaces on Saturday, he added.*