• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The “unused” tent city in Himamaylan City has been temporarily closed, pending repairs and future use, after some of its tents were damaged by the inclement weather from the southwest monsoon that affected Negros Occidental in previous weeks.
Regional Task Force Kanlaon Raul Fernandez disclosed on Tuesday that the 300 family tents will be subjected to a “strike down test” to assess their condition.
The tent city in Sitio Bingig, Barangay 3, Himamaylan City, has been earmarked for use as an evacuation center, should the Kanlaon unrest status be elevated to Alert Level 4. However, it was recently downgraded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to Alert Level 2.
Fernandez clarified that the tent city, which is owned by the Himamaylan City, can still be used should any calamities occur.
The tent city was put up in February 2024, with the help of the Army’s 542nd Engineering Battalion, as facilitated by the Office of Civil Defense.
Fernandez added that the tents will be donated to the Himamaylan City government.
More than 4,000 families, who reside outside of the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone, have returned to their homes last week, after the Kanlaon alert level status was downgraded.
Fernandez said Task Force Kanlaon is now focusing in the establishment of relocation sites for 81 families inside the permanent danger zones in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.*
