• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday assured Negrenses that the government will step up its response to help individuals affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.
“We will step up. We will level up. Any escalation in damages and destruction will be met with a stronger government response,” Marcos said in a video message.
Marcos said the government is focused on providing immediate assistance, adding that concerned agencies are closely coordinating with the local government units (LGUs) to ensure the safety of displaced individuals.
During a special session on Friday, presided by Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental adopted the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council of placing the province under a state of calamity.
The eruption of Kanlaon volcano on December 9 affected 33,806 people residing within the 6-kilometer radius. Due to the forced evacuation mandated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), these individuals are unable to remain in their homes, as they face not only respiratory health problems resulting from the ashfall, but also other hazards associated with contaminated food and water sources.
President Marcos Jr. said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development is making sure that there are enough family food packs, non-food items, clean water, and hygiene kits for the affected individuals staying in evacuation centers.
He also directed the Department of Budget and Management to release funds for the victims.
Marcos said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has prepared to respond to a worst-case scenario, even before the volcano erupted on Monday.
He also placed all units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection in Negros Island on high alert.
He said the Department of Health (DOH) is also ready to provide services, adding that additional medicines from Metro Manila would be airlifted, if necessary.
In the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) logged 13 ash emission events at Kanlaon Volcano.
In an advisory, PHIVOLCS said Kanlaon volcano continues to exhibit “moderate” degassing, accompanied by occasional ash emissions.
The ash emission varied, lasting from two minutes to one hour and 18 minutes.
Marcos said Task Force Kanlaon is coordinating the right response based on the strength of the volcanic eruption and the damage it may cause.
Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria also announced that the provincial government will give P5,000 in financial aid to each family in Canlaon City affected by the eruption.
On the other hand, the city government of Canlaon City in Negros Oriental, which has several barangays affected by the eruption, is calling for the donation of essential items such as large cooking pots (kaldero), large pans (kawa), diapers, and milk for evacuation centers.
Canlaon City has maintained a state of calamity since the volcano erupted on June 3.
PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol said they are monitoring the volcano’s activity under the current Alert Level 3 status.
If the restiveness increases, the alert level could be raised to 4, which would expand the permanent danger zone (PDZ) from six kilometers to 10, and force more evacuations.
Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas urged residents in the PDZ to evacuate, assuring them that relief goods and other essential supplies are sufficient.
As of Friday, a total of 1,029 families, comprising 3,397 individuals, are staying in five evacuation centers of Canlaon City.* with PNA reports
