ILOILO City – Over P7.93 million worth of humanitarian assistance has been provided to families affected by the recent eruption of Kanlaon volcano in Negros Island.
As of Dec. 11, a total of P7,933,946.20 in aid was distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6, local government units (LGUs), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
DSWD contributed P6,433,946.20 of the total amount.
The beneficiaries included residents of 21 barangays in Negros Occidental, specifically in Bago City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, La Carlota City, Murcia, and Pontevedra.
Aid consisted of family food packs and non-food items.
DSWD data revealed that 4,963 families, or 16,869 individuals, were affected by Monday’s eruption. Among them, 3,767 families (12,515 persons) remain in evacuation centers, while 670 families (2,502 persons) are staying outside evacuation centers.
The DSWD reported that it has P128,538,155.97 in available relief resources, including a P500,000 standby fund and P128,038,155.97 worth of food and non-food items.
On Dec. 4, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed DSWD secretary Rex Gatchalian to visit Negros Occidental and assess the situation of the displaced families.
During his visit, Gatchalian distributed 980 family food packs worth P597,800 and assured evacuees of continued government support.
“The assurance of our President is this: while you are here, the DSWD — our department — will continue to assist and support you, so please do not worry. The President specifically sent me here to check on your situation,” Gatchalian said.
He urged evacuees to heed local authorities’ instructions, emphasizing that it remains unsafe to return to affected areas.
“I know it may be a bit uncomfortable here, but the national government, the local government, and the provincial government are here. We will continue to help and support you,” Gatchalian added.
The DSWD Secretary visited evacuation sites, including La Castellana Elementary School in Barangay Robles, La Castellana, where families from Barangay Masulog’s upper and lower Mananawin areas were temporarily sheltered.
Gatchalian was joined by DSWD Region 6 director Arwin Razo, DSWD Region 7 director Shalaine Marie Lucero, Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group Diana Rose Cajipe, Disaster Response Management Division chief Erlyn Garcia, and local social welfare officers./PN
