SIMULATION EXERCISE. The municipal government of La Castellana, Negros Occidental, conducts a simulation exercise for Mt. Kanlaon response operations on Wednesday (Sept. 11, 2024). The active volcano is currently under Alert 2, with increased seismic activity observed since earlier this week that could result in sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. (Photo courtesy of Department of Social Welfare and Development-Western Visayas)
BACOLOD CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Western Visayas (DSWD-6) is preparing PHP147.575 million in relief resources and standby funds as part of its response in the event of another eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island.
Data on Thursday showed these include PHP144.848 million worth of food and non-food items and PHP3 million in standby funds.
Mt. Kanlaon is currently under Alert 2, with increased seismic activity observed since earlier this week, which could result in sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
In Negros Occidental, the DSWD-6 has activated the camp management committee in La Castellana, the local government unit (LGU) with several barangays located at the foot of the volcano, which was the worst hit when Mt. Kanlaon erupted last June 3.
“We are prepared to immediately respond to the needs of the affected families due to the recently observed unrest of Mt. Kanlaon,” DSWD-6 Regional Director Carmelo Nochete said in a statement.
On standby are 37,868 family food packs and 15,170 food items, which include 2,255 family kits, 6,277 sleeping kits, 2,623 hygiene kits, 3,202 kitchen kits, and 514 other non-food items.
According to the DSWD-6, food and non-food items are strategically prepositioned in the Bacolod City regional warehouse and nearby LGUs.
On Wednesday, its personnel inspected the Panaad Stadium in this city for possible Mt. Kanlaon response operations.
The stadium, located in Barangay Mansilingan, has been identified as the evacuation center for the municipalities of La Castellana and Moises Padilla as well as the cities of Bago, La Carlota, and San Carlos in case the ongoing unrest of Mt. Kanlaon escalates, the DSWD-6 said.
In La Castellana, the municipal government led by Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan, as part of the preparations, conducted a simulation exercise on Wednesday.
Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Emily Tan said the evacuation centers are ready, and emergency vehicles are available to transport internally displaced persons to evacuation centers.
Since Sept. 10, classes in all levels have been suspended in La Castellana.
In Cebu City, the regional field office of DSWD also assured residents in localities near the Kanlaon volcano of food and non-food assistance, including personnel who could help them in case of eventualities.
Shalaine Marie Lucero, regional director of DSWD-Central Visayas, said they have communicated to the governors in two provinces of the Negros Island Region about the prepositioned items as the volcano increased seismic activity.
“DSWD prepositions 3,400 family food packs (FFP) in nearby Vallehermoso town in Negros Oriental,” Lucero told the Philippine News Agency.
They also readied 6,800 FFPs in Kanlaon, in addition to 255 kitchen kits, 161 hygiene kits, 233 sleeping kits, a camp management kit, a women-friendly space kit, and a child-friendly space kit.
The DSWD warehouse in Dumaguete City has also a stockpile of 14,385 FFPs.
“We continue to monitor the situation in Kanlaon City amid the ongoing seismic unrest. (With reports from John Rey Saavedra)
