NEGROS ISLAND, Negros Occidental
Relief aid worth ₱43.33 million has been provided as assistance to some 8,004 families affected by the December 9 eruption of Mount Kanlaon, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in its latest situation report.

The relief itens included thousands of family food packs, financial assistance, hygiene kits, modular tents, 'sakolines', sleeping kits, laminated sacks and family kits.

In addition, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) announced that ₱240.5 million worth of standby funds and relief stockpiles constituting 186,328 units of family food packs are now available in the regional offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the two regions affected by Kanlaon's eruption.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd), as the lead for the Education Cluster, will be actively engaged in developing plans to ensure the safety and continuity of education for affected students in the disaster-stricken areas.

This development came as a low-pressure area off Mindanao poses risks of lahar flow in Negros Island even as OCD Western Visayas Director and Task Force Kanlaon chairperson Raul Fernandez disclosed that there plans to move the evacuation centers that are still within range of the danger zone (from 6 to 10 kilometers) to at least outside of the 14 km. radius.

Based on the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)’s report, 99.17 percent evacuation rate of residents in the permanent danger zone, totaling 5,772 families consisting of 18,475 persons, has already been reached.

OCD director Fernandez has assured the public of sufficient food and non-food items for the evacuees, sourced not only from the government but also from generous donors.