EVACUEES AIDED. Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian visited an evacuation center in Bago City, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, to assess the welfare of families displaced by the recent eruption of Mt. Kanlaon. (Photo courtesy of DSWD)
MANILA – Secretary Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has committed to providing prompt assistance to all families affected by the recent activity of Mt. Kanlaon. This assurance comes as part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure that those impacted receive essential supplies like food, clean water, and other necessities until the situation stabilizes.
During his visit to an evacuation center in Bago City, Gatchalian emphasized the DSWD’s readiness to support the evacuees, stating, “Following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s instructions, the DSWD is prepared to provide food, water, and other essential items to the evacuees for as long as they need it.”
Early Tuesday, Gatchalian traveled to Negros Island to oversee the DSWD’s disaster response efforts and check on the evacuees’ conditions. At the evacuation center, he personally supervised the distribution of family food packs, hygiene kits, and water filtration units.
“We are collaborating with local government units to ensure that there is sufficient food, water, and shelter in the evacuation centers. We are committed to meeting all your needs within these centers,” Gatchalian assured the evacuees.
According to the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication report, approximately 2,000 families from 14 barangays have been affected by the volcanic activity. Most of these families, totaling 1,992, are currently sheltered in 13 evacuation centers across Regions 6 and 7.
The DSWD has already provided over PHP620,000 in relief aid, including both food and non-food items. Gatchalian highlighted the department’s preparedness, noting the prepositioning of 80,000 family food packs on Negros Island before the eruption.
“Our response efforts are ongoing. We have prepositioned goods ready for use, and we are also sending additional supplies. With over 2,000 families affected, we are well-prepared to meet their needs,” he stated.
In addition to his visit, Gatchalian met with local officials, including Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and Bago City Vice Mayor Ramon Torres, to coordinate relief operations and discuss further support for local government units.
Accompanying Gatchalian were key DSWD officials, including Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe, Regional Director Arwin Razon of Field Office 6, and Director Shalaine Marie Lucero of Field Office 7. Meanwhile, the Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Mandaue City, Cebu, is actively producing 5,000 family food packs for Negros Oriental.
Director Shalaine Sun-Lucero from Field Office 7 reported that 50 families in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, are currently housed in two evacuation centers following the eruption. These efforts will bolster the existing stockpile of family food packs in the Guihulngan warehouse, managed by Field Office 7.