• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Office of the Civil Defense reported that 10,876 families, composed of 44,152 individuals, have been affected by the eruption of Kanlaon volcano in Regions 6 and 7.
The OCD said that 4,865 of the affected families, comprising 15,931 individuals, are staying inside 32 evacuation centers.
In a report, OCD said that P41,504,217.53 worth assistance has been extended to the affected families in the two regions, and P364,000 assistance to local government units and regional agencies in Region 6.
Local government units affected by the December 9 eruption of Kanlaon volcano, whose disaster funds are now almost depleted, are seeking help from the national government to feed residents evacuated from the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone.
The local government units of La Castellana in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental, have sounded the alarm over the depletion of their Quick Reaction Funds used to feed thousands of their affected residents.
The Canlaon City local government has completed the evacuation of over 6,000 residents from five villages within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) surrounding the restive Mt. Kanlaon.
Edna Lhou Masicampo, the city’s information officer-designate, reported on Wednesday that 2,029 families, comprising 6,541 individuals, had been relocated by Tuesday evening.
The evacuees are now housed in nine designated evacuation centers within the city proper.
The affected barangays are Pula, Masulog, Linothangan, Malaiba, and Lumapao.
Masicampo confirmed that the evacuees will remain in the shelters until authorities declare it safe to return, amid the ongoing threat posed by the volcano’s unrest.* with PNA reports
