Local officials of Canlaon City in Negros Oriental are seeking national government assistance amid the depletion of the local government unit’s funds due to disaster response operations that include feeding thousands of people displaced by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.
In a statement released on Thursday night, Dec. 12, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) raised alarm bells for a possible humanitarian crisis in Canlaon City as its fund has started to run out.
“Canlaon City has officially announced that it can only sustain support for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) for a period of three to four days. Due to this limitation, the city is requesting assistance and augmentation from the national government,” the OCD statement read.
As of the latest reports, a total of 6,092 individuals from five barangays in Canlaon City have been recorded as affected.
In Negros Occidental, almost 5,000 families composed of 16,689 persons from 21 barangays within or near the danger zones of Kanlaon Volcano were already evacuated.
On Dec. 9, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) hoisted alert level 3 over Kanlaon due to increased volcanic activity.
Alert level 3 indicates indicates that explosive eruptions may occur in the short term, potentially followed by similar short-lived explosive eruptions, which could generate pyroclastic currents within a 6-kilometer radius of the summit.
Volcanologists warned that the activity of Kanlaon Volcano may persist for up to 21 more days, and an escalation to Alert Level 4 remains a possibility.
The OCD said Canlaon City has already recommended that the national government allocate funds specifically intended for response efforts.
While the province of Negros Oriental has already expressed intention to assist Canlaon City, the Provincial Government faces challenges due to the policy governing the declaration of a State of Calamity at the provincial level, which currently affects only one city.
According to Republic Act 10121, two or more cities or municipalities must be affected for such a declaration, and the criteria from NDRRMC Memorandum No. 60, series of 2019, specify that at least 15 percent of the forecasted population should be impacted.
“Current conditions are further complicated by low signal bandwidth in Canlaon City, which is hindering communication and coordination efforts. The Quick Response Fund (QRF) for Canlaon City is already depleting, impacting their ability to provide necessary support,” the OCD statement read.
Aside from Canlaon City, the town of La Castellana in Negros Occidental is also requesting replenishment of their Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (LDRRM) fund, as they are currently covering various expenses, including the provision of hot meals and additional rice for the displaced individuals.
Way forward
the task Force/Inter-Agency Coordinating Cell (IACC) Kanlaon has submitted several requests to the national IACC for assistance.
These include the transportation of donations from PAGCOR, the deployment of a Rapid Deployment Team equipped with a water filtration truck, and the provision of additional family tents for the IDPs.
“As a way forward, it is essential to verify the actual number of affected families with the assistance of barangay officials, as recommended by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Region VI,” the OCD statement read.
“It is crucial for LGUs to address any discrepancies in the reported data regarding affected families,” it added.
The OCD said the local police forces are set to present an implementation plan to enforce “No Human Activity inside the 6KM Permanent Danger Zone,” and concerned agencies will present their evacuation plans.
Strict enforcement of the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone will be maintained, allowing farming and livelihood activities only during the morning, as individuals will need to return to evacuation centers at night.
“Additionally, the identification of evacuation centers within the 7-8 km buffer zone is underway, and efforts will be made to verify the discrepancy between the reported figures of 23,000 versus 6,000 evacuees in Canlaon City, alongside identifying the specific needs of these evacuees,” the statement read.