2 weeks ago
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BACOLOD CITY — Local government units (LGUs) in Negros Island affected by the continuing restlessness of Kanlaon Volcano are facing shortage of funds to feed evacuees, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday.
Lacson said the mayors relayed concerns over depleting funds to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his visit to the island last Friday.
The governor said most of the displaced residents have been staying in evacuation centers for more than two months now.
The evacuation of residents living within the 6-kilometer radius danger zone began when the Kanlaon Volcano erupted on Dec. 9, 2024.
La Carlota City Mayor Rex Jalando-on suggested using the 20 percent of the Development Fund, which is typically allocated for infrastructure, for the urgent needs for the evacuees.
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However, Marcos said it is "deemed not permissible" and suggested instead to tap the Quick Response Fund.
"It was clear to the President that the LGUs are struggling to secure funding," the governor said.
Lacson said that during the eruption of Mayon Volcano in Albay, "it took six months to maintain support for the affected residents, a timeline that the province cannot afford to replicate."
"Definitely we cannot afford that, the President is aware of that and there is a possibility that more funds could be given to Negros Occidental to address the issue of Mt. Kanlaon," Lacson said.
He also said that the President has ordered the strengthening of the Kanlaon Task Force.
Lacson said that the provincial government has allocated around P40 million from the provincial funds for the evacuees, with the majority of this money spent on food since December.
Lacson said the provincial government already received a P50-million donation from the Office of the President intended for the Kanlaon evacuees.
"We will start utilizing these funds, especially for food and feeding the evacuees, starting next month," Lacson said.
"Under Alert Level 4, with the increase of evacuees, the P50 million will probably only be good for two weeks."
Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas, on the other hand, suggested that the assistance for individuals in crisis situations, a program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), be provided to evacuees on a monthly basis.
As of 6 p.m. of Feb. 24, the DSWD reported that 12,630 persons have been affected by the Kanlaon eruption in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.
The DSWD also reported it has released a total of P104,915,443.84 in humanitarian assistance.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, meanwhile, said the increased volcanic activity of Kanlaon signals the possibility of an escalation to Alert Level 4.
Under Alert Level 4, where a highly hazardous eruption is imminent, the danger zone is extended from 6 to 10 kilometers, and the number of displaced residents will increase.
