MAYOR Añejo Nicor (left) welcomes Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson during a visit to La Castellana, Negros Occidental. (Mayor Añejo Nicor Official)
BACOLOD CITY – The provincial government of Negros Occidental has donated a P15.6-million lot as relocation site for residents displaced by Kanlaon Volcano in La Castellana, Negros Occidental.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said they are letting the municipal government decided on how to develop the 8.6-hectare property in Barangay Talaptap as they know the needs of their constituents, especially those living within the four-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ).
He added that the local government can seek support from the national government once they have a plan.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) proposed an evacuation center in La Castellana. Lacson said that it is up to the local government to decide if they will allow construction.
The OCD-Negros Island Region (NIR) approved the site but noted that improvements in road infrastructure may be necessary as access is through a hacienda.
Around 30 families in the town within the four-kilometer PDZ were affected by the volcano’s activities. The volcano last erupted on Feb. 19 and remains under Alert Level 2, signifying moderate unrest.