• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday discussed with the mayors of local government units (LGUs) surrounding Mt. Kanlaon the possibility of relocating residents from the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone (PDZ).
If the LGUs are ready to provide the land, the provincial government will help those affected by the relocation, Lacson said.
“There is something we should learn about this incident at Kanlaon,” he added.
At present, there are 4,128 families (13,454 persons) sheltered in 34 evacuation centers while an additional 2,351 families (7,458 persons) have sought refuge outside these centers, data of the Office of Civil Defense showed.
Lacson said it is very taxing to keep moving people to evacuation centers once there is an eruption.
“At least, we can already relocate those in the four-kilometer danger zone. It’s the LGU that will be saving money because by then, we don’t have to relocate anybody,” the governor said.
He estimated that less than half of internally-displaced persons (IDPs) occupying the evacuation centers are residing within the four-kilometer radius PDZ.
Lacson also raised the possibility that the relocation of communities maybe up to the six-kilometer radius.
The governor said that since the Dec. 9 eruption, the situation of Mt. Kanlaon has not improved, noting the continued occurrence of ash emission events, volcanic tremors and emission of sulfur dioxide far above the normal level.
There is still a possibility it will erupt, he added.
The possibility of allowing the IDPs to return to their respective homes, if concurred by the concerned local government executives, will be discussed during the meeting with the Regional Inter-Agency Coordinating Cell and Task Force Kanlaon on Wednesday.
In a report dated Jan. 7, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology logged 37 volcanic earthquakes and noted continuous degassing of Mt. Kanlaon, with gas emission as high as 1,400 meters. | GB
