P203.88 million additional assistance for Kanlaon victims OK’d

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — President Marcos has approved the P203.88-million additional assistance requested by local government units (LGUs) affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros, according to the Office of Civil Defense.

OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno yesterday said the funds would be downloaded directly to affected LGUs.

Nepomuceno made the statement following the signing yesterday of an agreement between the OCD and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the conduct of elections in areas affected by volcanic eruptions.

The agreement was signed by Nepomuceno and Comelec Chairman George Garcia at the provincial capitol in Bacolod City.

Among the LGUs that will receive additional financial aid are Himamaylan, P62.54 million; La Carlota City, P63 million; La Castellana, P48.5 million and Canlaon City, P29.72 million.

The P203.88-million additional assistance for Kanlaon victims will be sourced from the P20-billion fund of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The Comelec gave assurance that people displaced by Kanlaon could cast their votes on election day.

Garcia said the poll body would exert all effort to prevent failure or postponement of elections.

He said the Comelec would proceed with the election even in areas with only a few voters.

The poll body will deploy automated counting machines in areas near evacuation centers, where the transmission of election results will also be done, Garcia said.

There are almost 17,000 voters in five municipalities and cities affected by Kanlaon’s unrest.

Bulusan damage to agriculture reaches P1 million

Meanwhile, up to P1 million worth of farm produce was destroyed by the eruption of Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon, according to the Department of Agriculture.

The DA said the volcanic eruption displaced 33 farmers.

The volume of production losses reached 29 tons, covering three hectares of high-value crops and lowland vegetables.

“Initial damage and losses amounting to P898,740 have been reported on agricultural crops due to ashfall from Bulusan. The figure has yet to be validated,” the DA said.

Concerned DA offices have prepositioned rice, corn and vegetable seeds as well as essential agricultural equipment like harvesters to mitigate the impact of the calamity.

Earlier, state volcanologists recorded two phreatic eruptions in Bulusan, which remains under Alert Level 1 or low-level unrest.  – Bella Cariaso