By Brian Campued
The government has distributed over P590,000 worth of family food packs (FFPs) to communities affected by the recent eruption of Kanlaon Volcano, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.
Sec. Gatchalian visited the evacuation centers in La Castellana, Bago, and La Carlota in Negros Occidental on Tuesday under orders from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Ang assurance ho ng ating Pangulo, habang nandito kayo tutulungan kayo ng DSWD—ng aming Departamento—kaya huwag ho kayong mag-alalala. Talagang pinapunta ako ng ating Pangulo para tingnan ang inyong kalagayan,” he said.
The President earlier assured that the government is on top of the situation, stressing that funds are sufficient to provide additional support to displaced families.
“We are ready to support the families who have been evacuated outside the six-kilometer danger zone,” Marcos said.
The DSWD chief also extended non-food items (NFIs), including family kits and hygiene kits, as well as water-filtration units to local government units (LGUs).
The agency’s Field Office 6 (Western Visayas) and 7 (Central Visayas) also deployed Mobile Command Centers to provide free power supply and internet connectivity to allow residents to contact their families.
Gatchalian also reminded the evacuees to avoid entering the six-kilometer danger zone amid Kanlaon’s unrest.
“Sunod lang po tayo kay Mayor kasi mapanganib pa po talagang bumalik sa mga lugar niyo. Alam kong medyo hindi komportable dito pero nandito po ang pamahalaang nasyonal at nandito din ang local government at ang provincial government. Tutulong at tutulong po kami sa inyo,” he said.
Meanwhile, a State of Calamity may also be declared in Negros Occidental this week to allow the Provincial Government to use its quick response funds to address the needs of the affected residents.
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