• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Following the Kanlaon volcano ash eruptions on Feb. 15, the 9,827 residents of Barangay Mailum in Bago City, Negros Occidental continue to suffer from sulfuric stench aside from shortage of drinking water.
City disaster risk reduction and management officer Dr. Merijene Ortizo said on Monday (Feb. 17) the village was badly affected by the ashfall among the nine barangays, which experienced the effects of the ash eruptions.
The water contamination was confined in some remote areas of Mailum, including sitios of Lunao, Hagdan, Pataan and Tabidiao as well as Puroks Pili and Durarog.
These are located seven to eight kilometers from the volcano, where residents source water from a spring.
Water rationing is ongoing in affected areas through the assistance of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and the Bago City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Ortizo said she has already requested the City Health Office to conduct water physicochemical analysis in the affected areas.
Other barangays hit by ash fall were Ilijan, Dulao, Ma-ao, Binubuhan, Abuanan, Antipuluan, Tabunan and Bacong.
Ortizo said the city government distributed face masks although they have not received reports of health-related concerns from the affected residents.
Alert Level 3 still prevails over Kanlaon Volcano.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, in an advisory dated Feb. 17, reported the occurrence of 32 volcanic quakes and sulfur dioxide emission of 4,604 tons on Feb. 16.
Mari Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist of the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory in La Carlota City, said the eastern upper slope of the volcano edifice, which is facing Canlaon City, has been undergoing swelling since Jan. 10. | GB
