The provincial local 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 and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD 7), told the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday that this comes following a series of meetings with the Canlaon City LGU and the provincial government last week.

The DSWD 7 Quick Response Team (QRT), led by Disaster Response Management Division Chief Lilibeth Cabiara, has provided augmentation and support to the Canlaon City LGU for almost three months 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 and Development Office, will continue most of the roles DSWD 7 personnel performed in the past months.

Lucero said they have already 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 that she is confident “the provincial LGU is now capable” of camp management and related operations.

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 and Development in this capital city.

Lucero, meanwhile, vowed constant supply and delivery of food and non-food items to Canlaon City. (PNA)