• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strictly implement border control measures within the six-kilometer extended danger zone around Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island.
Donato Sermeno III, OCD regional director for Negros Island Region, said on Monday (May 26) that farmers and residents being allowed to enter the six-kilometer extended danger zone, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. to attend to their crops and livestocks, are bringing their children with them.
Sermeno also called on the PNP to document all the persons entering and exiting the danger zone.
The stricter enforcement is in response to the ongoing ash emissions and the possibility of further eruptions, with the danger zone remaining in effect, despite the lifting of the entry ban.
Sermeno said there is a possibility of more lahar flows into creeks and other waterways, if heavy rains persists, due to accumulated debris at the upper portion of Kanlaon Volcano, following its eruptions since June last year.
On May 24, stocked lahar overflowed into the highway of Sitio Tamburong in Barangay Biak Na Bato in La Castellana, making it not accessible for commuters for several hours.
The La Castellana Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that a house was destroyed while seven others were damaged due to lahar flow.
Prior to the latest lahar flow, residents in the area were already evacuated to the town poblacion.
Biak Na Bato barangay chairman Joselito Martinez said in a radio interview the barangay council already sent a letter to the national government, through the municipal government of La Castellana, asking the rehabilitation of the damaged bridge in their barangay. | GB
