BACOLOD City – Several families from Barangay Ilijan, Bago City, Negros Occidental — one of the areas severely affected by the recent eruption of Mount Kanlaon — have received roofing materials donated by a local business group.
According to the Bago City Information Office, around 680 households received a total of 2,800 galvanized iron (GI) sheets donated by the Southern and Northern Negros Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao, together with directors of the business group, led the ceremonial turnover of the roofing sheets to some of the beneficiaries at the City Hall grounds on July 4.
The mayor expressed her gratitude to the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce for the assistance extended to her constituents whose homes were damaged by the volcanic eruption.
“We are thankful for this blessing and the help given to our residents, especially those who lost their roofs during the eruption,” she said.
Mark Gomez, representing the Southern Negros Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said they hoped the donation would aid families in rebuilding their homes.
“Tani makabulig man kami gamay sa inyo pag-recover,” he told the families. “Hopefully, in the future, we will continue to help each other. We are also happy with the new mayor and the cooperation we have with the city government.”
One of the beneficiaries, Melanie Blace, shared her appreciation.
“Daku gid ang pagpasalamat ko kay mayora kag sa grupo nga nagbulig. Ang amon atop ubos gid sang paglupok sang bulkan — nagatulo ang amon balay kung nagaulan,” she said.
Meanwhile, in La Castellana town, the local government is looking into reports of the unauthorized decampment of at least 33 families or 89 individuals who were displaced by Mt. Kanlaon’s unrest. These internally displaced persons were originally housed at the relocation site in La Castellana National High School in Barangay Cabagna-an./PN
