Negros Oriental stands on the brink of declaring a state of calamity as the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) urged swift action following heightened activity at Mount Kanlaon on Friday, December 27.
PDRRM Chief Adrian Sedillo said the council voted to recommend the declaration after Vallehermoso recently declared a state of calamity. He said that this move aligns with Canlaon City, which has maintained the status since the June 3 eruption, meeting the legal requirement of declarations from at least two local government units (LGUs).
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan is deliberating on the recommendation. Sedillo expressed optimism for prompt approval, emphasizing that the declaration would unlock access to the provincial government’s Quick Response Fund (QRF) for intensified disaster response and relief operations.
Philippine News Agency quoted Sedillo as saying, “We’re prepared to act immediately once the declaration is in place.”
Efforts
Canlaon City is already feeling the strain. Information Officer Edna Lhou Masicampo revealed that the city’s QRF has depleted. Even the P30-million fund provided by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is nearing exhaustion due to ongoing relief efforts.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Central Visayas has stepped in to distribute food packs and P3,000 cash aid to affected families within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ). However, local leaders, including Mayor Cardenas, have urged the DSWD to include evacuees staying with relatives in aid distributions, as they are often overlooked.
By December 26, volcanic activity had displaced 2,421 families or 7,816 individuals. Of these, 1,778 families are staying in evacuation centers, while 643 are seeking shelter with relatives or friends outside these facilities.
Authorities have advised residents outside the PDZ to return home as fears of a major eruption subside. However, for those directly affected, recovery remains uncertain without swift provincial government action.
Fund Allocation
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed P130 million to support Negros Island communities affected by the Kanlaon Volcano eruption. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) received P70 million of this amount for its Quick Response Fund to enhance immediate disaster response efforts.
Canlaon City and Negros Oriental have each received P30 million to support their respective eruption response initiatives.
Canlaon City officials had reported that their resources could sustain Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) for only three to four days, highlighting the critical need for additional national government assistance.
Director Joel Erestain of the OCD in Central Visayas expressed gratitude for the timely support, calling it a significant relief for affected communities. He emphasized that the funding would ease the burdens of those spending the holiday season in evacuation centers, particularly the IDPs.
Meanwhile, the OCD Central Office has increased its fuel allocation to P1 million per month. This fuel will power transportation and clearing operations using heavy equipment and generators, ensuring that relief efforts continue during this challenging period.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.