BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas has called on the national government to allow the province of Negros Oriental to use the Quick Response Fund (QRF) to help Canlaon City affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.
THE back of a Ceres Liner bus covered with ash from Kanlaon Volcano. (Photo courtesy of Salta Radio Canlaon Official)
“I would like to let the national government know that Canlaon City can only survive three to four days with the current evacuees,” Cardenas said in a press briefing on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Cardenas said that the city has been under a state of calamity since June 3 when the volcano first erupted this year.
He said that the city has a QRF amounting to P4.5 million and the provincial government has downloaded P5 million to Canlaon.
However, Cardenas said that the province cannot declare a state of calamity because Canlaon is the only local government unit (LGU) affected by the eruption.
Cardenas said that they have food packs and non-food items from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
However, he said it is not possible to always give the same food to evacuees. “Can you imagine food packs for every meal? I guess we also need to have a variation of food for our evacuees,” he added.
Cardenas urged the national government to enact a special law to enable the provincial government to use its calamity fund to assist Canlaon. “It is always a reminder to every leader that we are always here to serve and not to be served,” he said.
He thanked the provincial government led by Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria for finding ways and means to extend assistance to the people of Canlaon.
Cardenas said that at least 6,000 individuals in nine sitios in five barangays in Canlaon have been affected by the eruption.
“We’ve done our part to serve them best. We address their needs and make them understand that safety first before comfort,” he added.
Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 3 which means that forced evacuation within a six-kilometer radius is mandatory.
Cardenas said that based on the assessment of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and the Department of National Defense (DND), it would take 15 days to evaluate volcanic activities if these would intensify or decrease.
He said they have a proactive plan to prioritize the lives of the residents residing near the volcano. “But, how long can we sustain it? Being proactive needs a lot of resources and money on top of the vehicles, and other resources. This is our current situation now,” he added.
Cardenas noted that evacuees have personal needs in evacuation centers. “We have no choice. We are hoping that the national government will look into this.”
He said that the province has a budget but cannot mobilize it because it needs two LGUs for the province to declare a state of calamity by law. “I know the province is very much willing to help,” he added.
Sagarbarria said that the province is on top of the situation and finding ways to augment assistance with the DSWD and DND. He said that he will connect with neighboring LGUs to ask for their support.
He said that he has asked the town of Vallehermoso that has barangays near the volcano to declare a state of calamity to enable the province to use its calamity fund.
“If the national agencies will give special permission to the province to declare a state of calamity, it would be a big help for Canlaon City,” he said.
The governor said that they have at least P25 million left for this year but their hands are still tied until the national government or another LGU would allow them to declare a state of calamity.
“The situation on the oriental side is tricky because only Canlaon City has been affected,” he added.
He said that the province has funds that can be extended to at least 1,000 affected families. Sagarbarria said that he is planning to give P5,000 cash assistance to each affected family.
Cardenas urged the people of Canlaon to be strong and pray that the volcano will not erupt further.