As the Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3 and in a state of intensified magmatic unrest, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, together with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, on Friday (February 21) led the distribution of aid to families and individuals affected by the volcano’s restiveness.
“Kami ay nandito, ako ay nakarating dito upang matingnan, para makita ko kung ano ba talaga ang sitwasyon. Gaya nga ng sabi ni Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer na very important na makita ko nang sarili ko na iba ang report na binabasa-basa lang at yung makita ko nang sarili ko,” President Marcos said during the aid distribution at the La Carlota City South Elementary School II Evacuation Center in La Carlota City.
A total of 323 families or 1,111 individuals from four evacuation centers in La Carlota City received Php5,000 financial assistance and family food packs (FFPs).
“Makaaasa po kayo na kami, ang pamahalaan ninyo ay hindi kayo iiwanan. Lagi kaming magpapadala ng lahat ng kailangan ninyo, lahat ng gamit, relief goods,” the Chief Executive told the evacuees.
The Presidrnt said the government will continue providing the necessary assistance for as long as the affected families and individuals are in need of support.
“Kahit gaano katagal ito, ang pamahalaan ninyo ay nandito, tuloy-tuloy itong suporta na ibinibigay namin sa inyo. Hindi matatapos ito, hangga’t kayo ay nangangailangan ng tulong, hangga’t kayo ay nangangailangan ng suporta ay ibibigay ng pamahalaan,” President Marcos pointed out.
In a situation briefing with President Marcos and heads of the provincial and local government units (LGUs) held after the aid distribution, Secretary Gatchalian said the DSWD will continue to provide financial assistance apart from the relief items.
“We actually started the financial assistance, we will just keep on continuing it,” Secretary Gatchalian told President Marcos during the briefing.
As of press time, the DSWD maintains more than 2.4 million boxes of family food packs (FFPs) and standby funds worth Php46.6 million ready to be augmented to affected LGUs.
In the Negros Island Region (NIR), a total of 156,441 boxes of FFPs were already prepositioned strategically.
More than 15,000 non-food items such as laminated sacks, hygiene kits, family kits, were also prepositioned in the different warehouses in the region.
Following Mount Kanlaon’s explosive eruption in December 2024, residents of Barangays Ara-Al, Yubo, and Haguimit—located within the six-kilometer Extended Danger Zone—have been forced to stay in the evacuation centers or their relatives and friends. (YADP)