• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Face-to-face classes in 14 schools in Bago City, Negros Occidental were suspended yesterday due to sulfuric odor, which emanates from the restive Kanlaon volcano.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Irene Bel Ploteña said that four other local government units (LGUs), including La Carlota City, Moises Padilla, La Castellana and Pontevedra owns, are also affected by the volcanic fumes.
Schools Division Superintendent Neri Anne Alibuyog said that the odor of discharged sulfur dioxide led to the suspension of face-to-face classes in Bago City.
Alibuyog said that the affected schools instead shifted to blended learning while face-to-face classes will resume once the odor subsides.
Ploteña said that the sulfuric odor also reached the barangays of Ilijan, Bacong, Ma-ao and Malingin in Bago City; Ara-al, Yubo, Haguimit, La Granja and Nagasi in La Carlota City; Mansalanao, Masulog, Robles, Camandag and Sag-ang in La Castellana; Odiong, Montilla, Guinpana-an, Macagahay ,Quintin Remo and Crossing Magallon in Moises Padilla; and the poblacion of Pontevedra.
While the sulfuric odor is not as strong, compared to when Mt. Kanlaon erupted on June 3, Ploteña said that they already coordinated with the Provincial Health Office to send supply of face masks to the affected residents of the five LGUs.
On Tuesday, heavy sulfur dioxide odor also reached 19 schools in Moises Padilla, prompting students attending classes to wear face masks while in some schools, the students were sent home, Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo said.
Yulo noted that the sulfuric odor subsided on Tuesday because of rains.
She encouraged residents to wear face masks, and advised those who are suffering from asthma and chest pains or not feeling well to immediately visit their respective health centers.
Sulfur dioxide discharge of Mt. Kanlaon, which remains under Alert Level 2, was measured at 8,973 tonnes per day as of Sept. 25, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in its advisory.
Ten volcanic quakes were also recorded.
Phivolcs reminded the residents near the volcano to limit their exposure and protect themselves against the volcanic gas.
Resident volcanologist Mari-Andylene Quintia said that the possibility of a magmatic eruption remains.
For the volcano to be considered normal, its volcanic earthquakes should be at 0 to 5 per day, and for sulfur dioxide, it should emit less than 300 tons a day.
The numbers at Mt. Kanlaon now are still way beyond normal, Quintia said. | GB
