DSWD ready to assist those affected by Kanlaon Volcano eruption

The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Saturday said it is ready to assist individuals who may have been affected by the short moderately explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island on Friday.

"Agad tayong nag-coordinate with our field office. In-assure natin ang publiko na mayroon tayong sapat na resources na maaari nating gamitin para tumugon sa pangangailangan ng mga kababayan natin," DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(We immediately coordinated with our field office. We assured the public that we have enough resources that may be used to respond to the needs of our countrymen.)

Dumlao said there are more than 75,000 family food packs in the Negros Island Region ready to be distributed.

"Mayroon tayong mahigit 75,000 na mga family food pack na naka-preposition diyan sa Negros Island Region. Our field office coordinated with the local government units... kung kinakailangan ng tulong ng DSWD. Inalam din natin kung ano ang sitwasyon," she said.

(We have more than 75,000 family food packs prepositioned in the Negros Island Region. Our field office coordinated with the local government units...if they need assistance from the DSWD. We also checked on the situation.)

Dumlao said the DSWD is ready to assist those who were displaced by the volcano's eruption.

"Walang displacements na nangyari... May mga naapektuhan ng ashfall but we stand ready to provide the necessary assistance," she said.

(There were no displacements... There were some affected by ashfall but we stand ready to provide the necessary assistance.)

Dumlao said local government units will be the first ones to respond to their constituents. Should they need additional assistance, that's when the DSWD comes in to release resources from its stockpile.

Kanlaon Volcano erupted briefly from 8:05 to 8:08 p.m. Friday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.

This caused ashfall and pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) to flow down its slopes, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.

Ashfall was reported in the following areas in Negros Occidental:

•     Bago City: Brgys. Mailum, Ma-ao, Ilijan, Bacong ang Abuanan;
•     La Carlota City: Sto. Guintubdan, Brgy. Ara-al,  and; 
•     Pontevedra: Brgy. Zamora. 

Meanwhile, sulfurous fumes were felt strongly in most of the above-mentioned barangays as well as in Brgy. Cabagnaan, La Castellana and in Brgys. Linothangan, Malaiba and Pula, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental. 

"Incandescent pyroclastic density currents or PDCs descended the southern slopes in the jurisdiction of La Castellana, Negros Occidental within a kilometer of the crater based on visual and thermal camera monitoring," it added.

PHIVOLCS said Alert Level 2 remains in effect at Kanlaon Volcano, and said "this most recent explosive eruption may be followed by further moderate intensity activity such as ash emission events or similar short-lived explosive eruptions." —KG, GMA Integrated News