2 months ago
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BACOLOD CITY — Four months since Kanlaon Volcano's eruption on Dec. 9, 2024, a total of 5,657 evacuees are still in evacuation centers in Negros Occidental, data from the Office of Civil Defense Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) showed.
OCD-NIR regional director Donato Sermeno III said that of the total number, 77 evacuees are from Bago City; 1,111 in La Carlota City; 4,264 in La Castellana; and 205 in San Carlos City.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the evacuees will not be allowed to go home as long as the alert level at Kanlaon Volcano remains at number 4.
Lacson said the provincial government will continue to provide food assistance to the evacuees as long as Alert Level 3 remains.
Local governments like La Castellana, which has the greatest number of evacuees, are appealing for more aid from the national government.
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"There is still a budget for food for another month, but we can already foresee in the near future that it might be a concern already," he said.
Right now, the governor said the capitol is utilizing funds from the 2024 budget and the P50 million given by the Office of the President.
Sermeno reminded the public to refrain from entering the designated danger zones if they have nothing important to do.
Earlier, the OCD implemented a "window time" of between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m., where residents are allowed to enter the danger zone to check on their plantation.
