In a significant move to support those affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, over 2,000 displaced residents of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, have been selected to benefit from the government’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program. This initiative was highlighted during a briefing led by Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas on January 28, 2025.
Edna Lhou Masicampo, the designated information officer for Canlaon City, revealed that these individuals, displaced since the eruption on December 9, have been residing in evacuation centers or with family members. A total of 2,150 people are eligible for the TUPAD assistance, with the first group of 1,445 already having attended an orientation session.
The TUPAD program, designed to offer temporary employment to those in need, will see the beneficiaries working for 10 days at a daily wage of PHP501. Their tasks will include maintaining cleanliness in evacuation centers and participating in community gardening projects, with work scheduled to start in February.
The Canlaon City government, in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), is implementing this program to provide financial support to those impacted by the volcanic disaster. As of January 29, 2025, 1,198 families, totaling 3,850 individuals, are still housed in eight evacuation centers, while 899 families, comprising 2,884 individuals, are staying with relatives outside the designated danger zone.