• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
As the emission of sulfur dioxide at the Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island continues to decline by less than 1,000 tons per day since May 19, the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has again called for vigilance within the surrounding communities.
Mari-Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist at the Kanlaon Observatory, said there could be an indication that the volcanic conduit is plugged, which may “result in pressure build-up that may result to an eruptive activity.”
In the previous eruptions of Kanlaon Volcano from June last year to May this year, it was preceded by a significant drop in sulfur dioxide emissions.
Phivolcs reported on May 23 that it has recorded 18 volcanic quakes and a drop of sulfur dioxide emission to 978 tons on May 22, and was even lower at 653 tons on May 20.
Alert Level 3, or magmatic unrest, still prevails over the volcano.
For more than five months now, there are 1,684 families still occupying the 13 evacuation centers in Negros Occidental as they are not allowed yet to return to their respective homes.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that it has already extended P116.7 million in humanitarian assistance to the displaced residents.
As of May 22, the DSWD-Western Visayas said that more than P77.2 million worth of food packs have already been released to the evacuees, on top of about P9.7 million in non- food items and P29.7 million in financial assistance. | GB
