Negros Oriental is now under a state of calamity.
The Negros Oriental Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recommendation for the declaration of a state of calamity in a special session on Friday, Dec. 27.
The approved resolution cited the adverse impact of the Kanlaon Volcano eruption on Negros Oriental.
The state of calamity will enable the provincial government to use its quick response fund to address the needs of the evacuees in Negros Oriental.
As of December 26 there were 1,778 families with 5,802 individuals in ten evacuation camps in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, while, 643 families with 2,014 were living with friends and relatives.
The 7,816 evacuees had evacuated from the Kanlaon Volcano 6-kilometer danger zone on the Canlaon City side.
The Negros Oriental PDDRMC made its recommendation after Vallehermoso town declared a state of calamity.
The requirement of at least two LGUs had been met as Canlaon City has remained in a state of calamity since Kanlaon‘s June 3 eruption.
Negros Occidental was declared under a state of calamity on Dec. 13, with a price freeze imposed on basic necessities and prime commodities, to address the effects of Dec. 9 Mt. Kanlaon eruption.*