BACOLOD City — Twenty-two internally displaced families who had been staying at the evacuation site in Payag sang Kapag-on Village, Barangay Napoles, Bago City, Negros Occidental are set to return to their homes today, August 16.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) gave the green light for their return after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) downgraded Mt. Kanlaon’s alert status from Level 3 to Level 2.
These families had been living at the city’s resettlement site for several months following the volcano’s eruption in December last year.
On August 14, Mayor Marina “Mayette” Javellana-Yao led the distribution of P10,000 in financial assistance to each displaced family through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) fund.
The mayor said the aid was a message to the families that the local government would not abandon them.
“This seed money will help them start rebuilding their homes and return to their previous lives,” she added.
Aside from cash assistance, the evacuees will also receive roofing and other housing materials from the city government.
This Saturday, the CDRRMO, City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), and other partner agencies will join forces in a bayanihan activity to help in the decampment, deliver housing materials, and distribute food packs to the families in Purok Manokan, Barangay Ilijan.
Javellana-Yao expressed her gratitude to all agencies and individuals participating in the effort.
“I reminded them to always pray for good health so they can continue living well back in their community,” she said.
The evacuees also conveyed their appreciation to the city government. Ninety-two-year-old Juanita Mesobra, who received a walking stick and body lotion from the mayor, said, “Nalipay gid ko. Nakabulig gid sa akon. Salamat gid kay mayora.”
Another beneficiary, Melanie Blace, said, “Daku gid ang akon pagpasalamat. Daku gid ni nga bulig sa amon pagpuli didto sa Purok Manokan.”
Authorities said some evacuees in La Castellana and La Carlota City, also in Negros Occidental, have already gone back to their homes./PN
