The provincial government unit of Negros Oriental has assumed the ‘support role’ in disaster response management in Canlaon City this week relative to the restive Mt. Kanlaon.
Shalaine Lucero, regional director of the Department of Social Welfare & Development in Central Visayas, told the media on Wednesday this comes following a series of meetings last week with the Canlaon City local government unit and the Provincial government.
The DSWD 7 Quick Response Team, led by Lilibeth Cabiara who is chief of Disaster Response Management, has provided augmentation and support to the Canlaon City local government for almost three months now since the Dec. 9 eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.
“It is not a full turnover but more of allowing now the Province to experience managing the camps because this is in preparation for a possible exodus,” Lucero said, noting a possible Alert Level 4 scenario in the event of a major volcanic eruption.
Lucero said once an exodus takes place during a major eruption, the provincial government will play a critical role in managing camps in the different towns and cities where Canlaon residents will be evacuated.
The Provincial LGU QRT, headed by Hilton Edrial of the Provincial Social Welfare & Development Office, will continue most of the roles DSWD 7 personnel performed in the past months.
Lucero said they have trained provincial government personnel, as well as those from LGUs near Canlaon City, on camp management and disaster response.
These trained individuals have been immersed with the DSWD 7 personnel in the past months at the evacuation camps to familiarize with their roles.
Lucero said she is confident the provincial LGU is “now capable” of camp management and related operations.
The Canlaon City LGU is taking the lead in response and management operations, with the provincial government playing a support role, and the DSWD 7 providing augmentation.
The turnover involved the reduction of 150 DSWD 7 personnel assigned in Negros Oriental and Canlaon City to around eight people at the evacuation camps and support personnel from Social Welfare & Development in the capital city.
Lucero, meanwhile, vowed constant supply and delivery of food and non-food items to Canlaon City. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
