BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental Provincial Government is considering declaring a state of calamity following Kanlaon Volcano’s renewed eruption on December 9, which affected thousands of residents across the province.
Governor Eugenio ‘Bong’ Lacson said the declaration would allow the province to tap its P78-million calamity fund to provide immediate assistance to the affected communities.
Various government agencies have mobilized support for the displaced families. The provincial government dispatched buses to assist in the evacuation of residents from impacted towns and cities.
“I thank our people for heeding the advice of their local government units to ensure their safety,” Lacson said. He also appealed to evacuees to remain patient as the government works to make their stay in evacuation centers as comfortable as possible.
According to the Office of Civil Defense-Western Visayas (OCD-6), 3,470 families or 11,720 individuals from the towns of La Castellana, Murcia, Pontevedra, and Moises Padilla, as well as the cities of Bago and La Carlota, were displaced.
OCD-6 spokesperson Maria Christina Mayor stated that member agencies of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council are collaborating with local government units to meet the needs of evacuees.
Task Force Kanlaon was activated to oversee response operations. Local government units and the Department of Social Welfare and Development have distributed family food packs to affected residents.
Over 300 police officers from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office were deployed to secure evacuation centers and ensure the orderly distribution of relief goods.
As Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and urge affected residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with disaster response efforts.