1 month ago
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BACOLOD CITY — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved an additional P200 million in financial assistance to local government units (LGUs) in the Negros Island Region affected by Mount Kanlaon's eruption.
Ariel Nepomuceno, administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), confirmed on Thursday that the president approved the request of the affected LGUs two weeks ago.
The total amount of financial assistance is pegged at P203,881,186 divided among four LGUs, according to the data.
Himamaylan City, which hosts the Tent City, will get the bulk of the assistance with P62,539,736.
La Carlota City will get P63,097,000, La Castellana P48,521,100 and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental P29,723,350.
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Nepomuceno said it has been five months since the OCD conducted relief operations to evacuees.
He assured that the national government is ready to help the affected residents.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expecting a total of 113,461 voters would be affected if the volcano continues its restiveness, including 75,771 voters in Negros Occidental and 37,690 voters in Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
The La Castellana town in Negros Oriental, which is at the foothills of the volcano, has 31,723 voters.
On Thursday, the Comelec and the OCD signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA), ensuring a safe and successful May 12 polls in Negros Occidental.
The MOA includes planning and mapping of emergency exits and routes of clustered precincts, the possibility of deputizing OCD for disaster response and security, the establishment of an Incident Command Post to immediately address potential emergencies or incidents, and other possible areas of cooperation.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia and Nepomuceno led the MOA signing at the Social Hall of Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, and witnessed by Comelec Commissioner Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal, PPCRV National Coordinator Dr. Arwine Serrano, and Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr.
