BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson disclosed that the P50-million assistance from the national government for Kanlaon Volcano evacuees would only last about a month and a half.
Lacson said the provincial government has yet to use the assistance but he is concerned about how long it would support evacuees amid the volcano’s continuing unrest.
The provincial government is using its own budget while under a state of calamity that could last for about a month, Lacson said.
It is spending P1 million daily to provide two meals for around 10,000 evacuees of the Dec. 9 eruption.
This covers food costs but not labor, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
Community kitchens have been established in evacuation centers in the cities of Bago and La Carlota and La Castellana to serve evacuees, volunteers, and camp management teams with each meal costing about P50 per person.
However, if the situation persists, more help will be necessary.
Lacson plans to discuss with the Office of Civil Defense the possibility of allowing evacuees to return home.
He visited several evacuation centers on Christmas Day to boost their spirits.
The Department of Health-Negros Island Region-Center for Health Development said the Dec. 9 eruption affected 8,313 families or 28,663 individuals as of Jan. 4.
It said 4,360 families composed of 14,235 persons are staying inside 22 evacuation centers in La Carlota, La Castellana, Bago, and San Carlos in Negros Occidental, and 10 evacuation centers in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.
A total of 150 health personnel, including doctors, nurses, technical staff, and other medical staff have been deployed.
The DOH-NIR accommodated 4,113 individuals for consultations and treatment. Top leading causes of consultations are fever, acute respiratory infection, and unspecified diseases.