BACOLOD CITY: In response to the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, the provincial government of Negros Occidental has implemented a network of 20 community kitchens that are delivering essential meals to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and support personnel. The initiative has been pivotal since the volcano’s eruption last month, which has significantly affected local communities.
According to Philippines News Agency, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson highlighted the efforts during his New Year address to Capitol employees, emphasizing the substantial impact of the community kitchens. “Through our 20 community kitchens, we provided for more than 10,000 IDPs, camp managers, volunteers, peacekeepers, and social workers,” Lacson stated. The volcano’s eruption on December 9 has impacted seven local government units (LGUs) within the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone, including the cities of Bago, La Carlota, and San Carlos, as well as the municipalities of La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Murcia, and Pontevedra.
Data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development 6 (Western Visayas) as of December 30 revealed that 2,658 families, or 8,731 individuals, are currently residing in 24 evacuation centers. La Castellana is identified as the most severely affected area, maintaining 14 active evacuation centers, while Bago and La Carlota each have seven centers operational.
Governor Lacson detailed that over the past ten days, provincial teams have delivered substantial food supplies, including one ton of pork and one ton of chicken, complemented by essential ingredients for well-planned meals prepared by 37 community-based cooks. These efforts ensured that evacuees were provided with nutritious lunches and dinners.
Lacson noted the importance of maintaining morale during the holiday season, stating, “Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and the days in between were celebrated with love and joy in our evacuation camps. We tried our best to make sure that Christmas and New Year celebrations were not deferred because of calamities.” Additionally, the province has installed portalets in evacuation centers to uphold health and sanitation standards for the displaced population.
The governor commended the provincial team’s dedication to addressing the basic needs of displaced persons, including access to good food, clean potable water, and essential supplies. In the wake of the volcanic activity, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level to 3, signaling that a magmatic eruption has commenced and warning of potential further explosive eruptions.
