61 Kanlaon-displaced families return to La Carlota homes

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – A total of 61 families, or 225 individuals, displaced by the Kanlaon Volcano eruption in December last year returned Thursday to their homes in Sitio Guintubdan, Barangay Ara-al, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.

The return was organized by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, which joined the convoy back into the area situated within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone.

The homecoming followed the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s decision to lower the volcano’s alert level from 3 to 2, signaling a decline to moderate volcanic unrest.

Before the decampment, Mayor Jose Luis “Joelu” Jalandoni and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council finalized a plan to ensure a safe and organized transition for the residents after eight months in evacuation centers.

To support the internally displaced persons, the city government is providing food packages, cash assistance, and galvanized steel sheets for home repairs.

The council is also pursuing the development of a permanent relocation site to enhance long-term safety and resilience.

Despite the lowered alert level, Phivolcs warned that sudden phreatic eruptions remain possible.

Meanwhile, the Bago City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is preparing for the decampment of 22 families at Payag sang Kapag-on Village in Barangay Napoles on Saturday, Aug. 16.

The local rescue team is working to ensure a smooth, safe, and well-coordinated transition.

An ongoing assessment aims to create accurate recovery plans, prioritize urgent needs, and direct resources where they are most needed.

Through these efforts, the Bago CDRRMO seeks to restore damaged infrastructure such as roofing systems, as well as the livelihoods, dignity, and well-being of affected families.

The 22 families in Barangay Napoles began moving into modernized nipa huts last March at a temporary relocation site for residents from the six-kilometer danger zone.

The relocation site, located on a seven-hectare city property, features 50 fully constructed nipa huts for families mostly from Purok Manukan in Barangay Ilijan, Bago City.