President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuously monitor and support the victims of the recent Mount Kanlaon eruption. During a visit to the La Carlota City South Elementary School II Evacuation Center in Negros Occidental on February 21, 2025, Marcos personally oversaw the distribution of aid, providing each of the 323 affected families, totaling 1,111 individuals, with PHP5,000 in financial assistance and family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Marcos emphasized the government’s dedication to the welfare of the displaced, stating, “We are always monitoring your situation, how you are doing, if any of you are sick, if you are all comfortable, we are especially concerned about the children.” He assured the evacuees that the government’s assistance would persist until normalcy is restored, saying, “Just expect that this assistance provided by the government will continue until you no longer need it. As long as you need it, we will be here.”
The eruption of Mount Kanlaon on December 9, 2024, forced residents from Ara-Al, Yubo, and Haguimit villages within the 6-km Extended Danger Zone to evacuate. These individuals have found temporary shelter in four evacuation centers and with relatives in La Carlota City. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has escalated the alert level to 3 due to intensified magmatic unrest, urging residents to remain in evacuation centers.
Following the aid distribution, Marcos received a briefing on the possibility of a larger eruption. In response, he announced plans to release additional funds to replenish the Quick Response Fund (QRF) of local government units (LGUs) to support their contingency plans. “Everyone has taken the initiative to make a plan already. It’s a question of putting it together and funding it,” Marcos stated, adding that the government would work on securing additional funding for the QRF and begin long-term planning.
Marcos also proposed the establishment of a task force to implement long-term measures, including the relocation of displaced individuals and the construction of new homes. Various government agencies have been actively involved in disaster response efforts to mitigate the effects of the phreatic eruption and other related local emergencies.
According to Phivolcs’ latest report, Kanlaon’s volcanic activity persists, with approximately 19 volcanic earthquakes recorded daily. The volcano’s edifice remains inflated, indicating magma accumulation beneath the surface, which increases pressure and causes ground swelling. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s situation report indicates that a total of 12,630 families or 48,528 persons have been displaced, with 57 towns in Western Visayas and Central Visayas placed under a state of calamity.
The unrest of Mount Kanlaon has caused over PHP129 million in damage to agriculture in Western Visayas. This marks the second eruption of Kanlaon in 2024, following the first on June 3. The government’s ongoing efforts to support and monitor the situation underscore its commitment to the safety and well-being of the affected communities.