• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Communities within the danger zone of Mt. Kanlaon are facing double crisis due to the continuing restiveness of the volcano and flooding in their homes brought by the heavy monsoon rains in Negros Island.
A total of 212 families, composed of 667 individuals, in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental have responded to the call of Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas for preemptive evacuation from the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone.
Mt. Kanlaon logged only 13 volcanic quakes, but still with high emission of sulfur dioxide at 10,880 tons per day as of Sept. 14.
During his visit to the evacuation centers in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria found out that respiratory issues confront the displaced individuals due to strong foul odor of sulfur dioxide emissions, and prompted authorities to distribute hygiene kits and face masks.
Significant damage to crops such as rice, corn and vegetables were also reported in the affected barangays of Canlaon City.
Sagarbarria committed to give 25 kilos of rice to each of the displaced families, who have been staying in the evacuation centers for several days now.
In La Castellana, Negros Occidental, which was badly hit by the phreatic explosion on June 3, more than 1,000 individuals have been transported from their homes to the evacuation centers since Thursday.
This is in compliance with the preemptive evacuation ordered by the municipal government due to flooding and threats of Kanlaon.
Meanwhile, the number of displaced families inside the evacuation centers rose to 2,796 families, composed of 8,953 persons, while 118 other families, composed of 441 individuals are staying with their relatives or in other houses, according to the report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Sunday night.
There are now 15,583 families, composed of 47,811 individuals, affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon.
Damage to agricultural crops were pegged at P7.390 million in 11 local government units while to fisheries and livestock at P632,083 as of Saturday.
A teenager was also reported missing in Barangay Maricalum, Sipalay City.
Due to Gale Warning No. 2, the Philippine Coast Guard suspended sea travel from San Carlos City, Negros Occidental to Toledo, Cebu, Pulupandan to Guimaras, Cadiz to Bantayan and Bacolod to Iloilo.
Trips to Sipaway Island from the mainland San Carlos City were also suspended.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Western Visayas activated its Emergency Operation Center for a well-coordinated response operations due to the monsoon effects and the ongoing unrest of Mt. Kanlaon.
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is also on alert, in case its La Granja Agricultural Research and Extension Center (LGAREC) in La Carlota City may be affected by the restiveness of Mt. Kanlaon.
SRA administrator Luis Pablo Azcona said that the LGAREC may be used as a shelter facility for the affected farmers. | GB
