The Quick Response Team 3 of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, led by QRT Vice-Chairperson for Operations Juanito C. Cantero, has distributed Food and Non-Food Items (FNFIs) valued at Php 76,284.00 to nine Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Camps 1, 2, and 8.

These nine IDPs had to leave their homes because they live within the 4 km radius of a danger zone. Milagros Reqinilao, one of the IDPs in Camp 2, stated, “We do not want to leave, but the police evacuated us because it is dangerous.”

She added that they chose to stay despite the risks due to their farms and livestock, which they rely on for their livelihood.

Moving to the evacuation camp kept them safer and reunited with their relatives, she noted that this decision was timely, especially after the volcano emitted dark ashes on Monday, December 23, 2024.

The IDPs expressed their gratitude to the government for providing their needs.

The local government unit (LGU) of Canlaon, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and some private partners have organized psychosocial activities to help them stay engaged and process any trauma they may have experienced.

Now, Canlaon City has ten (10) evacuation camps managed by the local government unit, with assistance from the DSWD Camp Management Teams.

Since Mt. Kanlaon erupted on December 9, 2024, DSWD 7 Quick Response Teams have assisted the local government unit in managing the evacuation centers and providing technical assistance related to camp management and other disaster response activities. ###

 

 

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