President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. explaining plans for the Kanlaon evacuees in the presence of Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Mangilimutan and Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas (l-r) in La Carlota City on Friday.*CPG photo
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Friday, Feb. 21, that he is forming a task force to be led by the Office of Civil Defense to act on the proposals of Negros Island officials for long term permanent evacuation sites for residents living within Kanlaon Volcano’s 4-kilometer permanent danger zone.
The president met with Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferer and the mayors of towns and cities affected by Kanlaon Volcano’s eruption at the La Carlota City South Elementary School-II evacuation center in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, Friday afternoon, Feb 21, to address their concerns.
“I asked what is needed and if there was anything lacking in the support being given to the evacuees, and for those who were displaced who are not in evacuation centers,” Marcos said.
“The lengthy discussion was on the long-term solutions, the mayors and the provincial government have very good ideas for the permanent relocation of residents living in Kanlaon’s permanent danger zone”, he said.
There were also proposals for permanent evacuation centers outside the danger area so if Alert Level 4 is declared at Kanlaon, people will have places to go to, Marcos said.
This will also enable residents to continue to make a living, he said.
A lot of agencies will be involved in establishing permanent long-term solutions, Marcos said.
“Essentially because of all of the plans that the local government officials have given us, we’re going to consolidate them, and we are forming a task force that will be led by OCD,” he said
“It’s a question of putting it together and funding it,” Marcos said.
That’s our way forward, the OCD will head the task force, he said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. discusses the Kanlaon situation with Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Mangilimutan, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, mayors Nicholas Yulo of Bago City, Rex Jalandoon of La Carlota City, Gerry Rojas of Murcia and Jose Chubasco Cardenas of Canlaon City (l-r) in La Carlota City on Friday.*
The president also led the distribution of P5,000 in Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation and two DSWD family food packs for each of the 323 families from four evacuation centers in La Carlota City at rites at the South Elementary School II.
The president assured the evacuees displaced by Kanlaon Volcano’s eruption that government will be there to assist them for as long as it takes.
The president said he understands the difficulty of the evacuees having to stay in evacuation centers for nearly three months already, but government has to ensure their safety with the unpredictable behavior of Kanlaon.
They have to be kept away from harm’s way as Kanlaon could erupt, he said.
“No matter how long it takes government will be here to help you,” Mascos assured the evacuees.
Marcos said he was in La Carlota City to see for himself the situation on the ground.
Local officials led by Lacson and Ferrer thanked the president for his help and said his visit was a morale booster for the evacuees.
“It’s a morale booster for them, it gives the assurance that the national government is in full support and that we’re not abandoned by government. Just like we have been saying to them, we have the backing of the president,” Raul Fernandez, OCD Western Visayas and Task Force Kanlaon head, said.
Residents at the evacuation centers said they were well cared for but they hope to be able to return to their homes when the situation at Kanlaon improves.
They also hope to get aid to repair their homes damaged by the volcano’s eruption, they said.
The evacuees said they were happy that the president came to visit and see what is happening himself.*