La carlota city: A total of 5,000 beneficiaries from seven local government units in Negros Occidental, affected by the eruptions of Mt. Kanlaon over the past year, have received PHP25 million in calamity assistance from the Office of the President.
According to Philippines News Agency, the financial aid, amounting to PHP5,000 each, was distributed by the Presidential Action Center during the Presidential Help Desk on Wheels activities held over the weekend in La Carlota City and La Castellana town. The recipients were from La Carlota City, Bago City, and La Castellana, 1,500 each; Pontevedra, 300; San Carlos City, 100; and Murcia and Moises Padilla, 50 each.
‘Layunin po ng programang ito na magbigay ng direkta at konkretong tulong sa ating mga kababayan naapektuhan ng nakalipas na kalamidad,’ PACe Director Ryan Joseph Sarte stated in an interview, emphasizing the program’s objective to provide direct assistance to those affected by past calamities.
During the aid distribution on Saturday, La Carlota City Mayor Jose Luis Jalandoni affirmed the city government’s commitment to collaborate with the national government for the recovery of its affected residents. In La Castellana on Sunday, Mayor A±ejo Nicor expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the assistance provided to his constituents. La Castellana, the most severely affected area, maintains an evacuation center for about 61 families or 213 individuals, who are expected to move to a new relocation site soon.
Earlier, on June 3 and December 9, 2024, Mt. Kanlaon experienced significant eruptions. With the alert status downgraded from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2 last July 29, approximately 1,300 displaced families or 4,000 individuals in La Castellana, residing outside the permanent danger zone, were able to return home.
This month, the joint Regional Task Force-National Task Force Kanlaon for Kanlaon Recovery and Development, led by the Office of Civil Defense, drafted comprehensive recovery and development plans for every affected LGU. In April, President Marcos established the National Task Force Kanlaon to oversee and coordinate the implementation and monitoring of all programs for the resettlement, recovery, and redevelopment of communities impacted by the volcanic activities.