Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson announced that the province will declare a state of calamity due to the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.
“We will be declaring a state of calamity this week,” Lacson confirmed.
He stated that all concerned government agencies are closely monitoring the volcano, and the Department of Defense has established Task Force Kanlaon, headed by Regional Director Raul Fernandez of the Office of Civil Defense. The task force will collaborate with the provincial government and local authorities to manage the situation.
Lacson explained that the evacuation plan is set for three weeks, assuming there is no further eruption. However, a permanent ten-kilometer danger zone may be imposed if another eruption occurs. He shared that he had discussed the current volcanic situation with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.
With the declaration of a state of calamity, both the affected localities and the provincial government will be able to utilize their respective calamity funds.
The province has a quick response fund of P78 million, Lacson said.
As an immediate response, Lacson added that the province will dispatch a delivery van to bring water to the evacuation centers.
As of 11:00 AM on December 10, the affected localities in Negros Occidental include La Castellana, where 8 barangays, 2,199 families, and 7,294 individuals have been impacted. In Moises Padilla, one barangay, 4 families, and 36 individuals are affected. Bago City has 2 barangays, 137 families, and 560 individuals affected. In Pontevedra, 2 barangays, 420 families, and 722 individuals are impacted. La Carlota has 2 barangays, 357 families, and 1,287 individuals affected.
Lacson noted that the number of affected individuals is expected to rise. (TDE)
