The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Region VII – Central Visayas commenced its collaboration with the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental, through its Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), on the Mt. Kanlaon response operations starting January 11, 2024.

The joint operation between DSWD 7 and the Negros Oriental Provincial Government enabled the department to provide technical assistance to the PLGU and Canlaon City LGU in Camp Management & Camp Coordination (CCCM) and Internally Displaced Persons Protection (IDPPs).

DSWD Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero stated that the joint effort between DSWD and the Negros Oriental LGU will optimize the Mt. Kanlaon response operations, particularly in camp management and IDP protection.

“As Vice Chair for the Disaster Response and Early Recovery Pillar of Region VII, DSWD 7 commits to respond to its duty in Canlaon City as needed. This time, we are grateful for the full support of the Provincial Office of Negros Oriental as they join us in the operations. We are confident that the joint operations will maximize the capacity of both agencies to respond, especially on Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) and Internally Displaced Persons Protection Cluster (IDPPs),” RD Lucero shared

Meanwhile, PLGU representative Hillton Edrial shared that Negros Oriental Provincial Government will send more teams to Canlaon City in the coming tour of duties for Mt. Kanlaon operations.

“In this deployment cycle, the PLGU- NegOr has initially deployed 25 Camp personnel for 7 days. We will deploy more teams for CCCM and IDP protection in the succeeding weeks/tour of duty. We are grateful to DSWD FO 7 and LGU Canlaon City, as this provides the learning experience to prepare ourselves for the worst case and an opportunity to help our fellow NegOrenses in need. Most camp personnel are first-timers in disaster response- CCCM, but we accept the challenge. We are always ready to serve,” said Edrial.

The PLGU has deployed a total of 25 staff members from its office, while DSWD 7 consists of 57 personnel, including staff from Field Office VII and the Negros Island Region.

Looking back, DSWD 7 began supporting Canlaon City immediately after the explosive eruption on December 9, 2024.

Moreover, DSWD 7 has already deployed four teams with more than 100 personnel for its first tour of duty in the Mt. Kanlaon operations in December.

On January 4, 2025, DSWD 7 started its second tour of duty with lesser personnel due to its collaboration with the Negros Oriental PLGU and Canlaon City LGU. ###

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