• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of Negros Occidental reported that as of June 13, there are still 783 families, composed of 2,992 persons, occupying five evacuation centers in La Castellana.
Until such time the alert level is downgraded and the heavy rains which may trigger lahar flow will stop, La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan disclosed on Friday that the internal displaced persons (IDPs) will have to stay at evacuation centers.
The affected IDPs are residents of barangays of Biak Na Bato, Cabacungan, Cabagna-an, Camandag, Masulog, and Sag-ang, all in La Castellana, according to Irene Bel Ploteña, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer of Negros Occidental.
Ploteña said that in La Castellana, the villages of Biak Na Bato, Cabagna-an, and Masulog, are located within the four kilometer Permanent Danger Zone of Kanlaon volcano.
On Wednesday, 488 families, composed of 1,362 individuals, from Brgy. Mansalanao, La Castellana, returned to their respective homes, as their village is not within the permanent danger zone, according to Mangilimutan.
With that development, the eight evacuation centers were reduced to five, after the 488 families were allowed to go home, she added.
A total of 83 families, or 283 persons in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, displaced by the recent volcano eruption were also allowed by the city government to return home on Thursday.
Mangilimutan encouraged private groups who wanted to extend help to affected residents of La Castellana, to coordinate with the local government unit.
As of June 14, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported the occurrence of 10 volcanic quakes.
Ploteña said that with the help of the Office of the Civil Defense 6, Philippine Red Cross, neighboring local government units, and volunteer groups, water rationing is still ongoing in communities affected by the eruption.
Dr. Girlie Pinongan, Provincial Health Officer of Negros Occidental, noted that common ailments experienced by IDPs at evacuation centers are cough and fever, which she described as “manageable,” as of this time.
Pinongan added that both the Department of Health and PHO are regularly conducting testing of the water supply, especially in evacuation centers, as part of precautionary measures against water borne related diseases.
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, who visited Negros Occidental on Thursday, said that DENR will provide equipment to monitor air and water quality in areas surrounding Kanlaon volcano.
Loyzaga said they will work closely with the province to identify where it would be best to position the instruments so that they can actually be effective in terms of decision making.*
