La Castellana Mayor Seeks PHP47M for Kanlaon Evacuees

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan is requesting PHP47 million from the national government to sustain aid for 4,244 internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the Dec. 9, 2024, Kanlaon Volcano eruption.

Mangilimutan told reporters Friday that the town’s financial resources are already depleted.

“For this reason, I am asking the national government to replenish the funds we used when Kanlaon erupted last December,” she said.

She added that the municipal government’s PHP17-million Quick Response Fund for this year has already been exhausted.

The mayor said the town had to step in to provide food for evacuees due to gaps in the provincial government’s feeding program.

She added that the provincial government is expected to resume feeding IDPs this week.

Mangilimutan said the 4,244 evacuees, or 1,362 families, are currently housed in seven evacuation centers across the town.

She reiterated that she has already submitted the contingency plan for Alert Levels 3 and 4.