Bacolod City – More families affected by the Kanlaon Volcano eruption will be sent home, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson disclosed recently, as classes are slated to open tomorrow June 16.
This follows the scheduled return of 257 families on June 13, to their homes located outside the 6-kilometer extended Kanlaon permanent danger zone, in sitios of Barangays Yubo and Araal in La Carlota City, as approved by the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.
In a report, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said 2,438 families, composed of 7,862 individuals, are staying in 24 evacuation centers, while 3,793 families, or 12,207 persons, are living with relatives or friends.
Lacson, who led the 127th Philippine Independence Day celebration at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on June 12, disclosed that the Department of Education has already told the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council that they need the classrooms occupied by evacuees.
So, they are now finding ways to reduce the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in schools being used as evacuation centers.
As far as IDPs are concerned, those that decided to move in with relatives will also be allowed to go home, Lacson further said.
“We are also looking at those residing along the road, [as] maybe the next group to be allowed to return home,” he added.
Alert Level 3 remains hoisted at Kanlaon Volcano, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
PHIVOLCS recorded seven volcanic quakes, as of midnight on June 12. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds)