Canlaon City: Over 2,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental have been relocated to modular tents to facilitate the reopening of schools that had been serving as evacuation centers.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) donated the tents to accommodate the IDPs, who were previously housed in six schools utilized as evacuation centers. These schools include the Jose B. Cardenas Memorial High School Main Campus, Villa Iowa Elementary School, Pula Elementary School, Malaiba Elementary School, Masulog Elementary School, and Masulog High School.

Edna Lhou Masicampo, Canlaon City Public Information Officer, stated that the IDPs are now situated in sheltered tents, separate from the classrooms, ensuring they do not share facilities with teachers and students. As of Monday, the evacuation centers are home to 763 families, comprising 2,455 individuals.

The tents have been strategically placed on the campuses to prevent disruption to ongoing classes, as they are located away from school buildings. The evacuation followed the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on December 9, leading to the displacement of residents within the 6-km Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of the volcano.

While some evacuees have opted to stay with relatives, no one is permitted to return to their homes within the PDZ due to the volcano's continued activity. However, evacuees are allowed to visit their farms and homes to check on their crops and livestock between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m., Masicampo noted.