• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Some residents in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, who were affected by the phreatic explosion of Kanlaon volcano, and staying at evacuation centers, are now suffering from respiratory illnesses, such as sore throat, coughing, allergies, and hypertension, apparently due to sulfurous odor and ash fall.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Girlie Pinongan disclosed on Tuesday that they have been conducting medical consultations regularly among displaced individuals, who were provided with hygiene kits, medicines, and face masks, a day after the phreatic explosion.
Following the eruption of Kanlaon volcano on June 3, coarse ashfall was observed in six local government units surrounding Kanlaon volcano, and sulfurous odor in eight other localities, according to reports of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) of Negros Occidental.
As of June 10, Mayor Alme Rhummyla NIcor Mangilimutan reported that a total of 1,237 families, composed of 4,190 individuals affected by the phreatic eruption in the barangays of Masulog, Biak Na Bato, Mansalanao, Cabagnaan, and Sag-ang in La Castellana, are still in evacuation centers.
In five LGUs they visited to conduct medical consultations, Pinongan noted that it was in La Castellana where some residents complained of sore throat, allergies, and other respiratory ailments due to the sulfurous odor.
However, she said it is “manageable” as of this time.
Pinongan also said that PHO and the Department of Health dispatched sanitary inspectors to check and conduct water testing on the sources of water in areas affected by lahar flow, and faucets in evacuation centers, to ensure that there will be no outbreak of gastroenteritis cases.
Medical personnel of PHO, various City Health and Municipal Health Offices, and even of the Philippine Coast Guard are also beefing up the La Castellana MHO manpower in the conduct of medical consultations among evacuees, she added.
The public has also been strongly warned against the use of water contaminated by lahar.
To provide potable water, the Office of the Civil Defense deployed a water filtration truck in La Castellana, which will stay in Negros Occidental for two weeks.
The water filtration equipment can produce 50,000 liters of water per day to serve the population affected by the Kanlaon phreatic eruption.
Various local government units in the province, Philippine Red Cross, and other private organizations also came to the rescue of La Castellana residents by providing clean and potable water.
On the other hand, the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP) Office of the Protected Area Superintendent on June 11 declared a no fly zone within the four to six kilometer Permanent Danger Zone of Kanlaon volcano.
Dennis Piñosa, MKNP Protected Area Superintendent, said in an advisory that the measure is essential to prevent disturbance to the wildlife inhabiting the Protected Areas.
Consequently, all drone activities within the specified area are strictly prohibited, he stressed.*
