Malacañang has released a special grant of P50 million to the province of Negros Occidental for residents affected by the Dec. 9 Kanlaon Volcano eruption, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday, Dec. 26.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said P123,691,278.86 worth of assistance had also earlier been provided to those affected by eruption. Assistance through local government units and Western Visayas regional agencies worth P364,000 was also allocated, the OCD added.
TENT CITIES
Tent cities will be set up to accommodate thousands more evacuees should another eruption occur at Kanlaon Volcano, which would raise its alert level to four, Raul Fernandez, OCD Western Visayas head, said on Thursday.
Fernandez, who also heads Task Force Kanlaon, said in Negros Occidental tent cities would be set up in Himamaylan and Kabankalan cities and possibly Pontevedra that are nearer to La Castellana where the bulk of additional evacuees are expected to come from.
Canlaon City’s evacuees will be accommodated in Vallerhermoso, Negros Oriental, he said.
Moises Padilla evacuees will be evacuated to Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental.
La Carlorta City and Bago City can still care for an increase in evacuees, and in a worst case scenario can use the Panaad Sports Complex in Bacolod City, Irene Bel Ploteña Provincial Disaster Management Program Division head, said.
CHRISTMAS VISIT
Lacson visited 11 evacuation centers in La Castellana town and La Carlota City to deliver burger treats on Christmas Day.
The governor said he visited the evacuees on Christmas Day to lift their spirits and assure them that the provincial government has enough funds to feed them for a month.
“The evacuees were in high spirits, they received us by singing Christmas songs…but everybody wants to go home, he said.
“We are asking those inside the evacuation centers for patience and of course a lot of prayers for Kanlaon to improve,” Lacson said.
For those who want to donate for the needs of evacuees, if it is food we suggest that they be turned over to the camp manager so they will be immediately used, he said.
As of December 26, a total of 11,883 families, comprising 45,526 individuals, have been affected across 32 barangays in Negros Occidental and Oriental, the Office of Civil Defense reported.
Among those affected, 4,454 families, or 14,186 persons, are currently residing in 32 evacuation centers (ECs), while 2,185 families, totaling 6,953 individuals, are staying outside these centers, the OCD reported.
P33.5M DAMAGE
The Department of Agriculture reported that the damage to agriculture from Kanlaon’s restiveness has reached P33.55 million in Negros Occidental.
It said 830 farmers and fisherfolk have been affected, while 34.54 hectares of crops have been destroyed and 263.51 hectares damaged with a chance of recovery.
ERUPTION LIKELY
Lacson said that the danger of lahar flow from Kanlaon remains, especially if there is heavy rain.
The OCD said current assessments suggest a high likelihood of further Kanlaon eruptions based on recorded sulfur dioxide emissions.
Three potential scenarios have been outlined: the first involves continued Alert Level 3 with slow magma ascent, leading to effusive activity and occasional explosive events; the second could see Alert Level 4 if magma ascent accelerates due to new intrusions; and the third may result in Alert Level 2 if gas loss occurs within the magma, temporarily halting eruptive activity while still posing threats, the OCD said.
PORTALETS
An additional 20 portalets arrived at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Thursday to assist evacuees in evacuation centers in La Castellana and La Carlota City, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
The portalets will be delivered on Friday to ensure proper sanitation for the evacuees, Diaz said.
VICTORIAS HELPS
The Victorias City government led by Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez also delivered assistance to the La Castellana evacuees on Monday, Dec. 23.
The City’s Mobile Kitchen provided hot, freshly prepared meals to approximately 6,500 evacuees across nine evacuation centers, a press release from Victorias said.
Lunch and dinner were provided to the displaced families, it said.
Victorias City also donated 400 sacks of rice to La Castellana for the evacuees.*