• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is eyeing unoccupied units of Yolanda housing projects in Negros Occidental as relocation sites for evacuees in the event of another eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.
OCD-Western Visayas Director Raul Fernandez, commander of Task Force Kanlaon, said he requested an inventory of the housing units under the National Housing Authority.
These are located in several local government units (LGUs), including the towns of E.B. Magalona and Manapla as well as in the cities of Silay, Victorias, Cadiz, Sagay and Escalante.
The plan was discussed during a meeting with the concerned LGUs on Thursday (Jan. 23).
The regional evacuation center in Bacolod City is being considered as well and will also undergo inventory.
For the municipality of La Castellana alone, Mayor Alme Rhummylan Nicor-Mangilimutan reported that 37,000 town residents are up for evacuation should Alert Level 4 be raised at Mt. Kanlaon.
Alert Level 3 remains hoisted at the volcano.
The OCD is also establishing a tent city for the affected La Castellana residents in Himamaylan City, aside from using the Himamaylan National High School.
A memorandum of agreement is also being eyed for signing between the cities of Bago and Talisay for a similar purpose, Fernandez said.
Mangilimutan earlier proposed that the displaced residents in her town should also be evacuated in northern Negros.
Meanwhile, farmers are already allowed by the OCD to harvest their crops within the permanent danger zone from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. under the supervision of the incident management teams.
Donato Sermeno III, OCD regional director for Negros Island Region, said the police is also patrolling the danger zone while manning the checkpoints in the area. | GB
