Daily Tribune‘We will step up. We will level up. Any escalation in damage and destruction will be met with a stronger government response.’
This handout photo taken and released by the Philippine Air Force Thursday shows a view of the crater on Kanlaon volcano in Negros Occidental province, central Philippines, taken during an aerial inspection following an eruption that occurred on 9 December.
Philippine Air Force/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
The government is “on top of the situation” amid the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on Negros Island, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said yesterday, stressing that the national government is prepared to assist the affected residents.
In a video message on Friday, Marcos said the national government is closely coordinating with local government units (LGUs) to ensure the safety of residents affected by the volcanic eruption.
“Nakatutok ang pamahalaan sa pag-agapay sa epekto ng pagsabog ng Bulkang Kanlaon (The government is focusing on assisting those affected by the eruption of Kanlaon),” he said.
Marcos said more than 45,000 residents have been evacuated from the six-kilometer radius danger zone of Kanlaon of the 84,000 the government is projecting to evacuate.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised Kanlaon’s status to Alert Level 3 after it erupted on Monday.
“Ang matagal ng forward-deployed na relief items ng DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development], tulad ng mga family food pack at non-food items, ay ibubuhos natin sa mga evacuation center. Kasama ang malinis na tubig, sleeping at hygiene kit,” Marcos said. (“The long forward-deployed relief items from the DSWD, such as family food packs and non-food items, will be distributed to the evacuation centers. These include clean water, sleeping bags, and hygiene kits.”)
Amid Kanlaon’s unrest, Marcos directed the Department of Budget and Management to ensure the smooth release of disaster funds.
He also ordered the Department of Health to continuously monitor the health of the evacuees and be on alert for any outbreak of diseases.
“We will step up. We will level up. Any escalation in damage and destruction will be met with a stronger government response,” he said.
Meanwhile, Marcos urged the people to get their information only from reliable sources like Phivolcs.
“Truth will save lives. Fake news will kill. Effective disaster response is anchored on reliable information,” he said.
“That’s why Phivolcs will continue to issue round-the-clock advisories, in language that is clearly understood by all our kababayan,” he added.
Marcos appealed to the residents living within the danger zone to evacuate immediately for their safety.
“Mas mahalaga po ang buhay kay sa ari-arian (Life is more precious than properties),” he said.
