• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Farmers have resumed harvesting matured sugarcanes within the six-kilometer extended danger zone of Mt. Kanlaon volcano after the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) lifted the suspension.
Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) Director Donato Sermeno III said the suspension of harvesting was triggered by the advisory issued on Jan. 11 by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) due to occurrence of numerous volcanic quakes and tremors, and continued ash eruptions.
The resumption of human activities at the Barangay Mansalanao danger zone in Castellana, Negros Occidental, as requested by the concerned local government, is now being closely monitored by the Regional Incident Management Team (IMT) of OCD in tandem with local IMT.
Sermeno said the supervised farming activities at the danger zone will also be allowed in other local government units, with window time also from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., if being requested.
This aims to balance the safety of evacuees with the need to sustain their livelihoods, particularly during the harvest season, he added.
Strict monitoring and coordination are in place to ensure the safety of farmers while they conduct their activities, Sermeno further said.
With this development, the OCD-NIR chief said they are now trying to improve the system in terms of readiness for evacuation of farmers, in case Mt. Kanlaon erupts anew.
Alert Level 3 remains hoisted over the volcano.
Two ash emissions were recorded by Phivolcs on Monday (Jan. 20) at 8:33 a.m. and 1:36 p.m.
A total of 13 volcanic quakes, including two volcanic tremors, were also recorded at nine to 23 minutes long. | GB
