Palace reviewing LGU’s extra fund request amid Kanlaon unrest

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang will carefully review the request of a local government unit (LGU) for additional funding to support response efforts for those affected by the unrest of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island.

Kanlaon had an explosive eruption early morning on Tuesday, producing a “voluminous, bent plume” about 4,000 meters high. READ: LIVE UPDATES: Kanlaon Volcano eruption

“Kung kinakailangan po ito po’y titignan pong mabuti—kung ano ang pangangailangan ng LGUs at agad-agad po itong bibigyan ng tulong,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said at a briefing.

(If necessary, this will be carefully reviewed—what the LGUs need—and assistance will be provided immediately.)

The call was made by the municipal government of La Castellana, Negros Occidental last March, after it had already fully utilized five percent of its P17-million calamity, maintenance, and other operating expenses fund for the year.

At the briefing, Castro said the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Western and Central Visayas offices are currently coordinating with affected LGUs for the disbursement of food and non-food assistance.

“Ngayon patuloy pa rin ang binibigay na serbisyo ayon na rin sa direktiba ng ating aPngulo,” she said.

(Right now, services are still being provided in line with the directive of our President.)

Phivolcs said Kanlaon Volcano remains under alert level 3, indicating magmatic unrest.