• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO / RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head Dr. Ana Maria Laarni Pornan confirmed that Bacolod City remains unaffected by ashfall or volcanic hazards following the explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano at 5:51 a.m. yesterday.
The eruption produced a 4,000 meter plume drifting southwest to west. As a precaution, the Bacolod City DRRMO Council and all barangay DRRM committees are placed on blue alert status for intensified monitoring. Bacolod is also ready to assist local government units that may be affected by the eruption as directed by Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
Meanwhile, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said the governor of the province and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan already have an action plan in place. He directed the affected LGUs to take care of their residents in the evacuation centers.
Ferrer said classes have been cancelled in La Castellana and parts of La Carlota as a result of the volcanic eruption. The national government has provided funds to the province but if the situation remains the same this will entail more expenses on the affected LGUs and the province. The disaster funds of the LGUs concerned have already been exhausted.
These were the issues he raised when the President visited the province. He is again reminding the affected LGUs to take care of the needs of the evacuees while the province will provide them food assistance, Ferrer said.*
