Kanlaon Volcano evacuees thank gov’t for DSWD-7 assistance

Staff members of DSWD 7, and the Negros Oriental provincial government facilitate child-friendly and women-friendly services for the internally displaced children and women in Camps 3, 6, and 5 in Canlaon City in this photo taken on  Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo from DSWD7 Facebook page)

 

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — Evacuees displaced by the Kanlaon Volcano eruption are thankful for government efforts in providing them with shelter and provisions. 

Anderson Marinduque Bello, 37, is one of the 1,805 families who evacuated, along with his four children from Sitio Alabasi Brgy. Masulog, Canlaon City. 

Bello thanked the government for giving them a place to stay as well as food supplies at the evacuation center. 

“Ug unsay insulti sa gobyerno, motuo na gyud ta. Pananglitan ron, nagpabilin ka diha nya magsigig ing-ana, mag alburoto ang bulkan, nya magpa-rescue ka, wala na gyud mo rescue nimo… sa unang pagbuto wala dayon mi bakwit kay kani gung pagahi-gahi ta…nya ang mga bata apiki kayo,” Anderson said. 

(We should follow the safety instructions from the government. Had we stayed in our house for much longer, we would eventually have been affected by Kanlaon’s unrest. By that time, nobody would be able to rescue us anymore. We refused to be evacuated during the first eruption. But our children experienced difficulties.) 

The local government has established 10 evacuation camps across Canlaon City, providing temporary shelter to the displaced families. 

Also, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed 11,888 family food packs (FFPs) for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). 

Families living within the volcanos’ six-kilometer radius have been evacuated to designated camps, while 646 families have sought shelter with their relatives and friends, and they are being monitored by the local government units regularly.

Another IDP, Rosie D. Sergio, is grateful that the government has not abandoned them in their time of need. 

Bisan pa man sa among sitwasyon karong panahona, malipayon ra gihapon mi tungod kay makita man namo na wala mi gipasagdahan sa gobyerno. Ug na-feel pud namo nga palangga pud mi sa gobyerno…kay gikuha mi sa among tagsa-tagsa sa panimalay nya naa mi sa critical area,” said Sergio. 

(Despite our situation, we are still glad because the government has not abandoned us.  The government is taking care of us, as they rescued us one by one from our homes located in critical areas.)

The DSWD has distributed 5,590 non-food items since the start of relief operations. 

All these provisions totaled P18,168,137.03.

DSWD has also distributed P2,000 and P3,000 cash relief assistance to all displaced families. 

Quick Response Team vice-chairperson Tonyson Luther S. Lee said that DSWD’s efforts on the ground continue to be felt by the affected communities, especially by the LGU, in terms of augmentation support of these provisions. 

Lee said that the agency has deployed a team of personnel who are dedicated to conducting disaster response operations. 

“What we are seeing on the ground is proof that the Filipino ‘Bayanihan’ spirit lives on, especially in the most difficult of times. Nagpasalamat ko sa tanang mga DSWD staff tungod sa ilang sakripsiyo ug pagdawat sa responsibilidad nga moalagad sa mga apektadong katawhan dinhi sa Canlaon City,” Lee said.

 (I thank all the DSWD staff for their sacrifice and for accepting the responsibility to serve the displaced  Canlaon City residents.)  (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)

In other News
Tags: Header2
Skip to content