BACOLOD CITY – The provincial government has resumed its feeding program for Kanlaon Volcano evacuees in three localities in Negros Occidental.

A COMMUNITY kitchen conducts a feeding program established by the provincial government for evacuees of Kanlaon Volcano in La Castellana, Negros Occidental. (Photo via Negros Occidental LGU)
Provincial social welfare and development officer Chiqui Gonzales said that the second round of food assistance covers about 6,000 evacuees in evacuation centers in the cities of Bago and La Carlota and La Castellana town.
La Castellana has the highest number of evacuees at 4,511, followed by La Carlota City at 1,213, and Bago City with 76.
Gonzales said that the amount to be spent for the one-month feeding program through community kitchens was estimated at P13 million as the number of evacuees has dropped 60 percent.
She said that food being served to evacuees is healthy and balanced meals and composed of more vegetables, beef, and fish aside from pork and chicken.
Forty job order workers serve as community kitchen cooks and underwent briefing and orientation on Feb. 3 before the feeding program resumed on Feb. 4.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said that the provincial government has allotted P11.9 million for the 30-day community kitchen feeding program.
Gonzales said that the province spent about P17 million serving about 10,000 evacuees during the first round of the feeding program from Dec. 24, 2024 to Jan. 6, 2025.