By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Friday announced that President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. has turned over P30 million each to the Canlaon City government and the provincial government of Negros Oriental, as part of ongoing government efforts to assist communities affected by the Dec. 9 eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.
“This support was facilitated today by (the) Special Assistant to the President, Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr., during a meeting with local officials and disaster management representatives,” the body said in a news release.
Present in this meeting were Negros Oriental 2nd District Rep. Manuel ‘Chiquiting’ Sagarbarria, Negros Oriental Governor Manuel ‘Chaco’ Sagarbarria, Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas, and OCD 7 Director Joel Erestain, who is also Vice Chairperson of the Regional Task Force Kanlaon.
This funding responds to ongoing volcanic activity, with the province of Negros Occidental having declared a state of calamity.
However, Negros Oriental faces challenges in making a similar declaration due to legal restrictions that require at least two cities or municipalities to be affected by the crisis.
Canlaon City previously reported that it could only sustain support for internally displaced persons (IDPs) for three to four days, underscoring the urgent need for additional assistance from the national government.
It also recommended that further funds be allocated specifically for response efforts affecting the six local government units involved.
Current conditions were complicated by low signal bandwidth in Canlaon City, hindering communication and coordination efforts. Additionally, the Quick Response Fund (QRF) for Canlaon City was already depleted, impacting its ability to provide the necessary support.
“We are grateful to President Marcos for this early Christmas gift. This funding will significantly ease the burdens of those affected by the Kanlaon eruption, especially the IDPs who will spend the holiday season in evacuation centers. It is a crucial step in ensuring that our communities receive the support they need during this challenging time,” Erestain said.
He also reported that the OCD Central Office has increased the fuel allocation for the QRF to P1 million per month to support Canlaon City’s needs.
“This fuel will be used for relief operations, including transportation, the use of heavy equipment for clearing operations, and generators,” Erestain added. “In total, this will provide approximately 4,450 liters of gasoline and around 13,350 liters of diesel.”