A TOTAL of 22 families in Bago City displaced by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano in December 2024 finally returned home on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
These families were temporarily staying at the evacuation site in Payag sang Kapag-on Village, Barangay Napoles, Bago City.
It was a “bayanihan spirit” with the participation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), along with other government offices and agencies.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) earlier issued a green light for their return after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) downgraded Kanlaon Volcano’s alert status from Level 3 to Level 2.
The affected families received P10,000 financial assistance from the City Government of Bago through its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Fund on August 14.
The distribution was led by Mayor Marina “Mayette” Javellana-Yao.
Javellana-Yao said the assistance will help the affected families to start rebuilding their homes, going back to their previous lives.
“I hope that even in small ways, they can feel that we care about them so they can go back to their homes,” she said.
Aside from the financial assistance, the evacuees were also given roof and other housing materials from the City Government.
The City Government also helped in the decampment of the evacuees, delivering the housing materials and food packages to their respective homes at Purok Manokan.
“I truly appreciate how everyone is helping each other, a real ‘bayanihan spirit,’ as we share even our small help with them,” Javellana-Yao said.
The mayor also expressed her gratitude to various government agencies for helping their affected constituents.
“I reminded them to always pray for good health so they may be able to continue living well once they return to Barangay Ilijan,” Javellana-Yao said.
The affected families also thanked the City Government, especially the mayor, for its continued support.
Juanita Mesobra, 92, who also received body lotion and walking stick from Mayor Javellana-Yao, said that she is really happy with the assistance of the City Government.
Melanie Blace also said that she is very grateful and it is a big help for them as they returned to Purok Manokan. (MAP)