• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
La Castellana in Negros Occidental will start immediately the clearing of volcanic debris that has again flattened portions of Ibid Creek in Barangay Biak-na-Bato after heavy rains brought by Typhoon Inday.
Vice Mayor Amelia Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said the accumulation of volcanic materials from Mt. Kanlaon has worsened the condition of the creek, increasing the risk of flooding in nearby communities.
While the Department of Environment and Natural Resources allowed the local government to scrape the volcanic debris, Mangilimutan said they are prohibited from transporting it outside the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP).
“The challenge is that if we simply place the debris along the creek, it could eventually be washed back again,” she said.
To address the problem, the municipal government will take the initiative under the emergency powers granted to local chief executives.
Mangilimutan said they were advised by Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II to proceed with the clearing operations while the provincial government provides heavy equipment.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has already approved the deployment of heavy equipment to support the operation, which is expected to begin as soon as possible.
Under the plan, volcanic debris will be scraped from the creek and transferred to lower areas within the boundaries of the MKNP.
If suitable areas are available, some of the materials may also be turned over to the barangay for possible use, the vice mayor said.
Mangilimutan described the situation as “very detrimental,” noting that sections of the creek have already started collapsing, with fallen trees, boulders and other volcanic materials continue to be carried downstream.
She warned that even a small volume of water flowing from Mt. Kanlaon, combined with volcanic debris, now causes the creek to overflow.
With the increasing danger, residents living in the lower portions of Ibid Creek have been advised to begin looking for relocation sites.
Around 60 families in Barangay Biak-na-Bato are expected to be evacuated.
Some affected families have already started looking for relocation site while others are temporarily staying at a site inside the natural park that was made available by the Protected Area Management Board to the municipal government.
Mangilimutan said that the area is currently being surveyed so evacuees can begin constructing temporary homes, instead of repeatedly returning to evacuation centers.
The municipal government had originally planned to relocate Kanlaon evacuees to Barangay Talaptap, but land development at the site has yet to begin.
“If the development will be left solely to the local government unit, we don’t have enough funds,” Manguilimutan said.
She noted that the municipality’s quick response fund just for food assistance is almost exhausted and disaster risk reduction and management funds also nearly depleted. | GPB
