• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Regional Task Force Kanlaon has again suspended the entry of internally displaced persons to the six-kilometer extended danger zone, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., to carry out farming and other essential activities due to the increasing restiveness of Kanlaon Volcano.
This was after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported 31 volcanic quakes, sulfur dioxide flux of 1,020 tons, and plume of 700 meters, as of May 26.
Based on previous experiences, these parameters maybe precursors to sudden eruptions, Donato Sermeno III, regional director of Office of Civil Defense (OCD) -Negros Island Region, said on Tuesday.
The suspension takes effect today until further notice, he added.
The OCD urged the Philippine National Police to strictly implement border control measures within the Kanlaon Volcano extended danger zone.
Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said the decision to allow farmers to carry out farming and other essential activities during the prescribed window hours lies within the OCD and concerned local government units.
“But as far as Phivolcs is concerned, there should be no people within the extended danger zone,” he added.
On May 23, stocked lahar overflowed into the highway of Sitio Tamburong in Barangay Biak Na Bato in La Castellana, rendering it impassable for several hours.
Bacolcol said should there be torrential rains, there is a possibility of more lahar flows into creeks and other waterways due to the accumulated debris at the slope of Kanlaon Volcano, following its eruptions several times since June last year.
The La Castellana Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that a house was destroyed while seven others were damaged due to the lahar flow, which also included boulders and logs.
Before the latest lahar flow, residents in the area were already evacuated to the town poblacion.
Based on the latest report of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, there are 1,684 families, composed of 5,433 individuals, staying in 13 evacuation centers, while 2,705 other families, comprising 8,714, are living either with their relatives or friends. | GB
