President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has allocated P130 million to aid communities in Negros Island affected by the recent Kanlaon Volcano eruption, Raul Fernandez, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Western Visayas Director and Task Force Kanlaon chairperson, said on Friday, Dec. 20.
Fernandez said the Office of the President allocated P70 million for the OCD Quick Response Fund.
The president has also provided P30 million each for Canlaon City and Negros Oriental for their Kanlaon eruption response work, he added.
The P60 million fund was facilitated by Special Assistant to the President, Sec. Antonio Lagdameo Jr., during a meeting with Negros Oriental Rep. Chiquiting Sagarbarria, Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria, and Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas on Friday.
Canlaon City previously reported that it could only sustain support for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) for three to four days, underscoring the urgent need for additional assistance from the national government, the OCD said.
“We are grateful to President Marcos for this early Christmas gift. This funding will significantly ease the burdens of those affected by the Kanlaon eruption, especially the IDPs who will spend the holiday season in evacuation centers. It is a crucial step in ensuring that our communities receive the support they need during this challenging time”, Director Joel Erestain of the OCD Central Visayas said
The OCD Central Office has also increased their fuel allocation to P1 million per month to support Canlaon City’s needs, Erestain added.
“This fuel will be used for relief operations, including transportation, heavy equipment for clearing operations, and generators,” Erestain added.*