• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two days before classes are scheduled to open on June 16, the schools that have been used as evacuation centers for almost six months have been decamped of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in La Castellana and La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, paving the way for their use by students.
This follows the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council issuing a memorandum, ordering 11 schools used as evacuation centers in La Carlota City and La Castellana in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Occidental, to be vacated in preparation for the resumption of face-to-face classes on June 16.
On June 13, a total of 1,092 IDPs in La Castellana decamped their evacuation centers at the town poblacion and were transferred to new relocation sites, such as barangay covered courts and open spaces outside the 6 kilometer permanent danger zones.
Four hundred sixty three of the IDPs are residents of Barangay Mansalanao, 214 are residing at Barangay Sag-ang, another 244 individuals are from Barangay Biak Na Bato, and 171 are residents of Barangay Masulog, all in La Castellana, according to a report of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.
The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office turned over to La Castellana, 80 modular tents for the barangays of Mansalanao, Biak Na Bato and Masulog, while a generator set with a substantial supply of fuel was delivered to Masulog High School Extension.
Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) head John de Asis disclosed that IDPs who live in houses near the road will be allowed to go home.
On the other hand, the 897 IDPs in La Carlota City, who are residing outside the 6 kilometer Kanlaon danger zone, were allowed to go home on Friday, after vacating the three schools they had been using as evacuation centers.
The remaining 232 IDPs, who live inside the permanent danger zone, however, were not allowed to go home. They are now staying at the City Evacuation Center and City Gymnasium 1 of La Carlota City.
Personnel from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) assisted IDPs in La Castellana and La Carlota City in the decampment operations.*
