BACOLOD CITY – The Office of Civil Defense is eyeing Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental as pilot tent city for Kanlaon Volcano evacuees.
MAYOR Raymund Tongson (right) inspects tents being set up in Sitio Bingig, Barangay 3, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental. (Photo courtesy of Himamaylan City Mayor's Office)
OCD-Western Visayas Regional Director Raul Fernandez discussed the tent city initiative in a meeting with Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Himamaylan City will initially have 500 tents and serve as temporary shelter for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Fernandez said they have received 1,350 tents and 395 have been delivered to Himamaylan for setup being done step by step to ensure that these meet the necessary standards for evacuation centers.
He said that an inspection of the nine-hectare Tree Park in Himamaylan City is scheduled Friday, Jan. 17, to finalize the layout.
Fernandez thanked the provincial government of Negros Occidental for their support in the preparations for Alert Level 4 conditions.
He said the OCD plans to extend the Tent City to other areas such as Talisay, Silay, Kabankalan, Panaad Park, and Stadium for Negros Occidental and Vallehermoso and Guihulngan in Negros Oriental, if necessary.
He also said that responsibilities between the host local government unit and affected LGU have been outlined in their discussions.
A Memorandum of Agreement is needed for their partnerships, he said, as that the Tent City will only be used under Alert Level 4 conditions.
Despite uncertainties surrounding Kanlaon Volcano, OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno assured the public that the government is ready for any scenario.
“We are fully prepared and all government agencies are working together to ensure that evacuees are provided with the support they need,” he said.
“Our goal is to minimize the impact on families and communities and ensure their safety as we monitor Mount Kanlaon’s activity,” he added.