Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo (Neg. Occ., 5th District) said it would be ideal for La Castellana, Negros Occidental, residents displaced by Kanlaon Volcano’s unrest to be relocated in areas within the town.
“It’s a very difficult situation for us, the people are financially, emotionally, psychologically and physically drained because they have been staying at the evacuation centers for more than two months since Kanlaon erupted,” he said.
He does not think they will be willing to stay at evacuation centers for several more months, he said.
Yulo said it will be doubly difficult to convince the displaced residents to evacuate to areas outside of La Castellana.
Their concern is not just the relocation sites but their livelihoods within the 6-kilometer Kanlaon danger zone, he said.
Yulo also said Mt. Kanlaon’s restlessness will definitely affect sugarcane crop within the danger zone.
The Office of Civil Defense is preparing evacuation sites in Himamaylan and Kabankalan cities for La Castellana residents if Alert Level 4 is declared.
La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Mangilimutan has suggested several barangays within her town as relocation sites for the evacuees.*