• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Office of Civil Defense is speeding up the establishment of emergency shelter tents to accommodate the internally displaced persons who were moved out from schools, particularly those who are from Barangay Cabagnaan in La Castellana, which is located inside the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone of Kanlaon Volcano.
Donato Sermeno III, Office of Civil Defense regional director for Negros Island Region, yesterday said that OCD has initially sent 180 emergency shelter tents to house 369 families from Brgy. Cabagnaan, who were moved out from La Castellana Elementary School.
Sermeno said they are temporarily staying at the La Castellana National High School, with the consent of school officials, pending relocation to a temporary camp in Brgy. Mansalanao, La Castellana.
Others will occupy the 90 emergency tents already established at Villa Cana in Brgy. Robles, La Castellana, he added.
With the onset of the rainy season, Sermeno admitted it will be a challenge for OCD to ensure that IDPs will be protected from the elements.
Remuel Lajo, La Castellana Public Information Officer, disclosed that IDPs from barangays of Biak Na Bato, Mansalanao, Masulog, and Sag-ang,were transferred from the poblacion evacuation centers to their respective barangay covered courts.
Others have decided to stay with their relatives, Lajo added.
Alert Level 3 still prevails over Kanlaon Volcano.
About 2,000 IDPs in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental have transferred to modular tents to allow the schools that were used as evacuation centers to open on Monday.
Edna Lhou Masicampo, Canlaon City Public Information Officer, disclosed that OCD donated the tents to accommodate the IDPs from six schools that were previously utilized as evacuation centers.
“The IDPs are in the sheltered tents and not in the classrooms. They will not be sharing the facilities with the teachers and the learners,” Masicampo said.
As of Monday, 763 families with 2,455 individuals are inside the evacuation centers, she added.
The tents are located on the campuses, but these will not hamper the ongoing classes as they are situated away from the school buildings.* with PNA reports
