• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Following the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their respective homes due to the downgraded alert level status of Kanlaon volcano, the Office of Civil Defense – Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) is optimistic that affected local government units (LGUs), could still receive the P203 million fund promised them by Malacañang.
OCD-NIR head Donato Sermeno disclosed on Monday that they have not received communication that the funds promised to the concerned LGUs will no longer be given.
The funds are still good, as of this time, Sermeno said, stressing that the Kanlaon unrest status is still Alert Level 2.
Almost 3,000 IDPs in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Occidental, went home last week after staying the evacuation centers for approximately eight months.
However, there are still 213 IDPs still occupying the evacuation camps in La Castellana, OCD-NIR records showed.
The P203-million budget, as requested and approved Malacañang, allocated for La Castellana, La Carlota, and Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental, has yet to be downloaded by the Department of Budget and Management to the recipients.
Sermeno said that OCD-NIR remains under red alert status, because of the continuing Kanlaon Volcano unrest.
The more than 200 remaining IDPs in La Carlota City are scheduled to return home this week, while some of the 22 families in Bago City are reportedly leaving the evacuation center on August 16.
La Castellana Mayor Añejo Nicor said the cost of caring for the evacuees has completely depleted the town’s Quick Response Fund, and other resources.
Nicor said they are appealing for the national government to help them recover.
Sermeno supported the appeal of Nicor to reimburse their Quick Response Fund, in anticipation of storms that will hit the country.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday that the purchase of 8.6 hectares of land for La Castellana residents residing within the four-kilometer permanent danger zone “is about to happen already.”
We would like to start it. I hope that the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council is also quick in extending their help for the site development of the relocation area, Lacson said.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is eyeing to purchase another 11 hectares.
If there will be enough funds, and if we can agree on the price, then we can proceed, Lacson said.
On the other hand, Sermeno said the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development is now conducting an inventory of houses destroyed and partially damaged by Kanlaon Volcano eruption and Tropical Storm Crising, to extend financial assistance to the owners.*
