Bago City, severely impacted by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Occidental, has officially declared a state of calamity to accelerate relief operations for its residents. The decision was made during a special session of the city council on Monday, following the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC). This declaration comes in response to the ongoing hazards and damages caused by the volcanic eruption that occurred on December 9, 2024.
Mayor Nicholas Yulo announced that the city can now utilize PHP18 million from its Quick Response Fund (QRF) to provide immediate assistance to evacuees. The ashfall from the eruption has affected all 24 barangays in Bago City, with the most severe impacts felt in Mailum, Ilijan, Ma-ao, and Binubuhan.
As of Sunday, 113 families, totaling 366 individuals, were sheltered in four evacuation centers. Additionally, on Monday, 159 individuals from 49 families in Purok Manokan, Barangay Ilijan, were forced to evacuate due to a mandatory order for those within the 6-km permanent danger zone, as mandated by the Regional Task Force Kanlaon.
The CDRRMC’s resolution highlighted that the state of calamity declaration would speed up relief efforts, mobilize resources, and improve coordination among government agencies and stakeholders to better serve the affected communities. The resolution also includes a price freeze on basic necessities to curb price gouging and hoarding.
In a related development, the entire province of Negros Occidental was declared under a state of calamity on December 13, following the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) had raised the alert level to 3, signaling ongoing magmatic activity that could lead to more explosive eruptions.
Current efforts in Bago City are centered on providing aid, ensuring the safety of residents, and mitigating the broader impacts of the eruption on the community.