Displaced Kanlaon Evacuees Return to Centers

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Internally displaced persons who previously left evacuation centers in La Castellana, Negros Occidental have begun returning.

Donato Sermeno III, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region, said 33 families left the La Castellana Senior High School evacuation center to return to their homes within the 6-kilometer expanded danger zone in Barangay Cabagnaan on Monday.

John de Asis, head of the La Castellana Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said eight families, or 24 individuals, were initially brought back to the evacuation center.

He said they returned after receiving assurances that their concerns raised during a meeting would be addressed.

The La Castellana Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office reported that three more families have since agreed to return.

The evacuees who left earlier had complained about poor living conditions in the evacuation centers.

They also expressed frustration over the national government’s lack of a clear plan for their situation.

De Asis said some decided to return after discovering their homes were damaged by ashfall from Kanlaon Volcano’s eruption.

The IDPs have been at the evacuation centers since the Dec. 9, 2024 eruption.

Sermeno said security at the borders will be tightened to prevent more evacuees from returning to homes in the danger zone.

Concerns raised by evacuees include inadequate shelter, lack of transportation for students, and poor internet connectivity.

Sermeno said the OCD is coordinating with its central office to send prefabricated shelters instead of tents.

He also said they have requested the Department of Information and Communications Technology to improve connectivity in the evacuation areas.

Earlier, 5th District Rep. Dino Yulo said he was not surprised evacuees left the centers, citing the extended period of displacement.

“They’ve already been there for the last six months — they are physically exhausted, mentally disturbed, psychologically distressed, and sexually deprived,” Yulo said.

He criticized the lack of a long-term government plan for the IDPs’ future.

“Assuming that this crisis continues in the coming years, are we just going to tell them to abandon their livelihoods?” he said.

“We should be very clear on what we want — or what our plan is.”

Yulo said he plans to deliver a privilege speech in Congress once sessions resume to bring national attention to the plight of the IDPs.