MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday led the government’s campaign to help families affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Occidental.
A total of 9,046 families or 27,596 individuals hit by the disaster were assisted by the government, according to President Marcos.
The Chief Executive said agricultural loss from the volcano eruption amounted to PhP11.33 million. He said various government aids are being rendered to help Region 6 recover from the calamity.
“Sa kasalukuyan, umabot na sa higit siyam na libong pamilya o mahigit dalawampu’t pitong libo katao ang naapektuhan ng pag-aalburuto ng Kanlaon,” President Marcos said in a speech.
“Ang mga pinsalang idinulot nito sa agrikultura ng Negros Occidental ay umabot na sa mahigit labing-isang milyong piso, na ikinalugi ng isang daan at tatlumpu’t limang mangingisda at magsasaka,” he added.
He said the government distributed PhP4.21 million in assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for Bago City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, and Pontevedra. The state also extended PhP10,000 each for 10,000 farmers, fisherfolk and their families in the region.
The President said the Department of Agriculture (DA) is assessing the effects of the calamity to agriculture and fisheries for appropriate recovery measures.
He said the DA Region 6 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center and Livestock Rescue Evacuation Center were also mobilized to assist livestock owners.
Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office distributed medicines to La Castellana and deployed veterinarians for livestock owners.
President Marcos said the government, through the local government units, will distribute presidential assistance of PhP10,000 to each of the beneficiaries in Bacolod City and other parts of Negros Occidental.
The government will also extend PhP10 million for Bacolod City government and PhP50 million for Negros Occidental Provincial government, he said.
The Office of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, for its part, distributed five kilograms of rice to each beneficiary in Negros Occidental. (PND)
