By Jose Cielito Reganit
MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Field Office-Negros Island Region (FO-NIR), is prepared to deliver swift assistance to residents in affected areas following Kanlaon Volcano’s renewed eruption.
“The DSWD NIR City Action Team (CAT) of Canlaon had a meeting with the LDRRMO (Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office) and CSWDO (City Social Welfare and Development Office) yesterday (Thursday). The meeting focused on contingency planning, and identification of potential evacuation centers. Nagkaroon na rin po ng assignment of roles and responsibilities ang bawat concerned agencies para po masiguro na mabilis ang pag responde natin sakaling lumala pa itong aktibidad ng bulkang Kanlaon (The specific roles and responsibilities of each concerned agency were assigned to ensure swift response in case Kanlaon Volcano’s activity worsens),” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said in a statement on Friday.
Kanlaon Volcano recorded a moderately explosive eruption that lasted for two minutes on Thursday afternoon, followed by a sustained ash emission for about 40 minutes that generated a plume reaching about 2,000 meters above the crater.
According to the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), the eruption caused ashfall and a sulfuric smell in 40 nearby villages.
Among the ashfall-affected communities were Bago City, Moises Padilla, La Carlota City, Pontevedra, La Castellana, Hinigiran, and Valladolid. Meanwhile, no ashfall was reported in Canlaon City in Negros Oriental and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental.
“Through our Field Office NIR, we are closely coordinating with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) NIR. There’s already an advice to conduct preemptive evacuation within the 4 to 6-kilometer danger zone. Some of the LGUs (local government units) already deployed emergency response teams in high-risk areas. In Canlaon City, there are rescue vehicles deployed in pick-up points in Barangays Pula and Masulog that will cater those who wish for preemptive evacuation,” Dumlao said.
The DSWD assured the public that sufficient resources are available to support families who may be affected by the volcanic activity.
To date, a total of 223,608 family food packs has been prepositioned in the NIR, while 10,549 ready-to-eat food boxes, 16,264 non-food items, and 1,225 other NFIs are ready for immediate distribution. (PNA)
