President Marcos Jr. answers questions from the media on aid and shelters to be made available to Kanlaon Volcano evacuees in the presence of Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian (left), Mayors Rhummyla Mangilimutan of La Castellana town (second to right), and Jose Chubasco Cardenas (right) in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental on Friday, Feb. 21. 鈥� CARLA GOMEZ
BACOLOD CITY鈥擯resident Marcos is forming a task force headed by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to act on proposals from local government officials on Negros Island for long-term permanent evacuation sites, instead of using school buildings, for residents within 4-kilometer permanent danger zone.
The President announced the creation of the body after a meeting on Friday afternoon in La Carlota City with Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and the mayors of towns and cities affected by the volcano鈥檚 eruption last December.
鈥淚 asked what is needed and if there was anything lacking in the support being given to the evacuees, and for those who were displaced who are not in evacuation centers,鈥� Marcos told reporters following the meeting at the La Carlota City South Elementary School-II evacuation center.
The lengthy discussion, he said, was on the long-term solution on the permanent relocation of those living within the four-kilometers danger zone.
There were proposals for permanent evacuation centers where people can take shelter if alert level 4 is raised over the volcano, said the President.
鈥�(The evacuation centers) will enable residents near the volcano to continue to make a living. A lot of agencies will be involved in establishing the permanent solutions,鈥� President Marcos said.
He added: 鈥淏ecause of all of the plans that the local government officials have given us, we鈥檙e going to consolidate them and we are forming a task force to be led by OCD,鈥� he added.
Alert level 4 means a magmatic process can progress into a highly hazardous eruption. The volcano is currently under alert level 3, which was raised after it erupted on Dec. 9, 2024.
Presidential aid
The President led the distribution of food packs and P5,000 in cash to each of the 323 families (1,111 individuals) from four evacuation centers in La Carlota City.
He assured the evacuees who continued to be displaced by that the government would be there to assist them for as long as it takes.
The President said he understood the difficulty of the evacuees having to stay in evacuation centers for nearly three months already, but stressed the government has to ensure their safety with the unpredictable behavior of Mt. Kanlaon.
鈥淭hey have to be kept away from harm鈥檚 way as Kanlaon could erupt. No matter how long it takes, the government will be here to help you,鈥� he said.
Local officials thanked the President for his help, saying his visit was a morale booster for the evacuees.
鈥淚t gives the assurance that the national government is in full support and that we鈥檙e not abandoned by government just like we have been saying to them that we have the backing of the president,鈥� said Raul Fernandez, OCD Western Visayas and Task Force Kanlaon head.