In the wake of the recent eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, the local government of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, is urgently appealing for financial assistance from the national government. The city’s Quick Response Fund (QRF), which stood at PHP11 million, has dwindled to just PHP4.7 million as of December 15, 2024, following the initial eruption on June 3.
The eruption has forced the evacuation of over 4,000 residents from five barangays within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone of the volcano. These displaced individuals are currently sheltered in seven evacuation centers, including newly established sites at Binalbagan and Bayog Elementary Schools. The local government estimates daily expenditures of between PHP600,000 and PHP700,000 to meet the needs of these evacuees.
City officials are emphasizing the importance of providing more than just basic sustenance. Maritess Estrada, the mayor’s secretary, highlighted the necessity of nutritious meals to prevent health issues and disease outbreaks among the evacuees. The local government has set up community kitchens and is procuring essential non-food items such as diapers and milk formula, which are not covered by the standard family food packs provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas is hopeful for national intervention, as the provincial government is legally unable to declare a state of calamity. Meanwhile, despite the ongoing crisis, schools have resumed operations, though students from the seven schools now serving as evacuation centers will switch to modular learning to accommodate the situation.