• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno has ordered the agency’s regional office in Western Visayas to prepare for worst-case scenarios such as when an eruption coincides with a typhoon.
“Preparing for the worst-case scenario is crucial for saving lives. We must ensure that our response plans are robust and ready to be implemented at a moment’s notice, especially in the face of potential natural disasters,” Nepomuceno said.
He emphasized the importance of local government units in preparedness efforts as he appealed to localities “to work doubly fast in all preemptive and risk mitigation measures.”
“It is essential that we prevent the loss of lives and livelihoods in the event of a major or violent eruption. The time to act is now,” Nepomuceno said.
He also urged affected residents to heed the guidance of local leaders and follow advisories from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and the OCD.
“It is vital that residents stay informed and follow instructions from authorities to ensure their safety. Their cooperation can make a significant difference in our collective response to this situation,” Nepomuceno stressed.
On Saturday, the Phivolcs reported an increase in volcanic ash emissions at Mt. Kanlaon as it recorded 28 emission episodes that lasted up to one hour and 16 minutes.
The emissions generated grayish plumes that rose up to 800 meters above the summit.
Phivolcs clarified though that the ash emissions have been generally quiet and occurred without seismic or infrasound signals.
Based on Phivolcs visual observations, the latest ash emission episode took place between 5:46 a.m. and 7:02 a.m. on Saturday, or for a period of one hour and 16 minutes.
Traces of ash and sulfurous fumes were reported in Sitio Bais in Barangay Yubo, La Carlota City and in Barangay Sag-ang in La Castellana, Negros Occidental.
Phivolcs said there has been persistently high degassing of volcanic sulfur dioxide at the volcano.
Alert Level 2, or increasing unrest, is maintained over Mt. Kanlaon. | GB
