DSWD sends additional food packs to Negros due to Mount Kanlaon Alert Level 3

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian has ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Disaster Response Management Group to send additional food packs to Negros Island due to the potential eruption of Mount Kanlaon, which is currently at Alert Level 3.

Gatchalian assured that more than 100,000 food packs will be distributed starting Sunday, with a goal of prepositioning 40,000 boxes each for Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental by Monday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Saturday that Mount Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 3, indicating ongoing ground deformation and sulfur dioxide emissions, which may suggest increasing pressure in the shallow magma conduit.

DSWD Secretary Gatchalian instructed regional directors to check on other warehouses as backup for prepositioned food packs to ensure maximum capacity is reached for both sides of Kanlaon.

These additional measures aim to support families displaced by potential volcanic eruptions or other disasters, ensuring their safety and well-being.