FOLLOWING the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on Negros Island, the Cebu City Government plans to extend another financial assistance to the local government units (LGUs) affected, the mayor revealed on Monday, April 14, 2025.
Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said in a press conference that he was waiting for the final recommendations from the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) and Councilor Joel Garganera, who serves as the chairman of the committee on disaster response.
Mt. Kanlaon, situated between Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental provinces, experienced another eruption on Monday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.
Late Monday afternoon, Phivolcs reported another ash emission from the summit crater of Mt. Kanlaon. Light ashfall and sulfur odors were reported in Bago City.
Alert Level 3 prevails over Mt. Kanlaon, according to Phivolcs.
Garcia said these recommendations will be submitted to the Office of the Mayor that will determine the specific amount and nature of assistance to be extended to the affected areas in Negros Island.
“As always, the City of Cebu will play a big brother role to our unfortunate brothers and sisters in other LGUs nga naka-experience og disaster,” said Garcia.
Preparation
The CDRRMC assesses the needs of the affected LGUs to determine the aid.
Garcia explained that the CCDRRMC is currently focused on the preparation for the Holy Week and the threat of high heat index affecting the water supply in the mountain barangays.
He recalled a similar situation on July 4, 2024, during which he personally handed over checks containing financial aid to various LGUs impacted by a previous calamity.
On June 3, 2024, Mt. Kanlaon erupted producing a 5,000-meter plume, affecting several LGUs.
Garcia turned over P3 million cash aid to Canlaon City officials and a separate P1 million cash aid to the Municipality of La Castellana.
Meeting
On Tuesday, April 15, CCDRRMC Chairman Ramil Ayuman told SunStar Cebu that the council will meet after Holy Week to discuss the amount of cash assistance for the affected LGUs.
Ayuman said that once the CCDRRMC finalizes the amount, a resolution will be approved and endorsed to the City Council for funding approval and account allocation. / EHP