Urgent Appeal for Quick Response Fund to Aid Canlaon City Amid Volcano Eruptions

In a pressing call to action, Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas has urged the national government to permit the province of Negros Oriental to utilize the Quick Response Fund (QRF) to assist his city, which has been severely affected by the ongoing eruptions of Kanlaon Volcano. Speaking at a press briefing on December 12, 2023, Cardenas emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that Canlaon City is struggling to provide adequate support to around 6,000 individuals displaced across nine sitios in five barangays since the volcano first erupted on June 3. “Our current resources can sustain the evacuees for only three to four days,” Cardenas warned, highlighting the gravity of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. The city has managed to secure a QRF amounting to P4.5 million, supplemented by an additional P5 million from the provincial government. However, due to legal constraints, the province has been unable to declare a state of calamity, which is a prerequisite for the allocation of much-needed funds to assist Canlaon. Cardenas pointed out that although they have received food packs and non-food items from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the lack of variety in the food provided to evacuees poses another challenge. “Can you imagine food packs for every meal? I guess we also need to have a variation of food for our evacuees,” he lamented, underlining the importance of addressing not just the immediate physical needs of the affected families but also their emotional well-being. In his appeal, Cardenas called for the national government to enact a special law that would enable the provincial government to utilize its calamity fund for Canlaon City. He expressed gratitude towards Governor Manuel Sagarbarria for his efforts in seeking ways to extend assistance to the beleaguered residents. “It is always a reminder to every leader that we are always here to serve and not to be served,” Cardenas remarked, echoing the sentiments of public service amidst the crisis. Meanwhile, Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3, indicating that forced evacuation is mandatory within a six-kilometer radius of the volcano. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and the Department of National Defense (DND) have indicated that it could take up to 15 days to assess whether volcanic activities are intensifying or decreasing. Cardenas highlighted the need for a proactive plan to prioritize residents' safety while acknowledging the financial burden of sustaining such efforts. The mayor expressed concerns about the personal needs of evacuees in shelters, emphasizing that while they have no other choice but to cope, they are hopeful that the national government will address their pressing needs. He noted the legal limitations that prevent the province from mobilizing its budget unless at least two local government units (LGUs) are affected, which adds to the complexity of the situation. In response, Governor Sagarbarria assured that the province is actively monitoring the situation and is seeking assistance from neighboring LGUs. He has proposed that the town of Vallehermoso, which has barangays located near the volcano, consider declaring a state of calamity to enable the province to access its calamity fund. “If the national agencies will give special permission to the province to declare a state of calamity, it would be a big help for Canlaon City,” Sagarbarria stated. With approximately P25 million remaining in the provincial budget for the year, Sagarbarria aims to provide financial assistance to at least 1,000 affected families, potentially offering P5,000 cash aid to each household. However, he reiterated the need for regulatory changes to facilitate the immediate release of funds, underscoring the precarious nature of the situation facing Canlaon City and its residents.