President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has provided a total of PHP60 million to aid the relief efforts for those affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on December 9. The funds were distributed equally between the Canlaon City government and the provincial government of Negros Oriental, with each receiving PHP30 million. The handover was conducted by Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Special Assistant to the President, during a meeting with local officials and disaster management teams on December 20, 2024.
The meeting saw the presence of key figures including Negros Oriental 2nd District Representative Chiquiting Sagarbarria, Governor Chaco Sagarbarria, Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas, and Director Joel Erestain of the OCD 7 (Central Visayas) and Vice Chairperson of the Regional Task Force Kanlaon. The funding aims to address the ongoing volcanic activity, particularly as Negros Occidental has already declared a state of calamity.
Negros Oriental, however, faces legal hurdles in declaring a similar state due to the requirement that at least two cities or municipalities must be affected. Canlaon City has expressed that it can only support internally displaced persons (IDPs) for a limited time, highlighting the urgent need for further national assistance.
The city also faces challenges with low signal bandwidth, which affects communication and coordination efforts. Additionally, the Quick Response Fund (QRF) for Canlaon City has been exhausted, further straining its capacity to provide necessary support.
Director Erestain expressed gratitude for the aid, describing it as an early Christmas gift that would significantly alleviate the burdens faced by those affected, especially IDPs spending the holiday season in evacuation centers. The OCD Central Office has also increased the monthly fuel allocation for Canlaon City’s QRF to PHP1 million, which will be used for relief operations, including transportation, heavy equipment for clearing operations, and generators, providing approximately 4,450 liters of gasoline and 13,350 liters of diesel.