Ang Paglaum Multi-Purpose Cooperative (APMC) delivered goods worth P20,000 for about 600 evacuees currently housed at St. Vincent Shine Parish in La Castellana on Monday, June 10, 2024.
The evacuees were from various “sitios” (villages) in Brgy. Cabagna-an which is located at the foot of Mt. Kanlaon. At least 235 families in La Castellana are affected by the volcano’s eruption last June 3 and its aftermath.
The cooperative is rallying more support from its members and stakeholders to deliver additional aid to affected communities.
“As a cooperative, we recognize our social responsibility to support those in need during this difficult time, as we cannot simply stand idly while other Negrenses struggle,” said APMC Board of Directors in a call for support from its members.
According to the APMC relief operations team composed of officers and staff, the cooperative’s initial donation was received by Rev. Fr. Ricon Dagunan and distributed to evacuees at St. Vincent’s High School beside the parish church.
The parish priest said that the goods they received would be shared with the adjacent evacuation centers in the town and to upland areas directly affected by the eruption where some residents remain as they cannot leave their farm animals and implements.
It is still uncertain when they can return to their respective places as they depend on advice from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said the APMC relief operations team.
APMC is one of the cooperatives of employees at Carlos Hilado Memorial State University.
