• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Although about 87,000 residents are living within in the 6-kilometer danger zone of Kanlaon volcano, only 3,470 families, composed of 11,720 individuals who are residents of 19 barangays in six towns and cities, have evacuated from their homes, following the declaration of Alert Level 3 by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, according to reports by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, as of 1 p.m. of December 10.
Donato Sermeno, officer in charge of the Negros Island Region Office of the Civil Defense, disclosed that they enlisted the help of the police to enforce forced evacuations in communities surrounding Mt. Kanlaon, noting that there are residents that continue to defy the advice of local government units to evacuate.
According to the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, the affected barangays are located in La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Murcia, and Pontevedra, and the cities of Bago and La Carlota.
DSWD reports showed that La Castellana was the hardest hit area with 2,455 families affected, composed of 7,983 individuals.
The forced evacuations immediately started following the eruption of Kanlaon volcano at 3:03 p.m. on Monday, which produced a voluminous plume that rose to 3,000 meters above the vent and drifted west-southwest.
Ash fall was reported in cities of Bago City and La Carlota, towns of La Castellana and Murcia in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson disclosed on Tuesday that the evacuated residents will stay a minimum of three weeks at the designated evacuation centers, upon the advice of the Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, pending observation of Kanlaon volcano activities.
Kanlaon volcano is now at Alert Level 3, which means that there are increased chances for sudden and even stronger explosive eruptions to occur and endanger communities at risk with life-threatening volcanic hazards, according to PHIVOLCS.
If they see the possibility of another eruption, Lacson said the Office of the Civil Defense will call for a 10-kilometer radius forced evacuation.
Stressing that it is now a serious situation, Lacson said he is hoping that local government units (LGUs) will cooperate and join the forced evacuation, if necessary, up to 10 kilometers.
He added that Negros Occidental will declare a state of calamity within this week. At the same time, Lacson activated all response clusters to facilitate emergency response and humanitarian assistance.
This will pave the way for the provincial government of Negros Occidental to use its Quick Response Fund, which is equivalent to P78 million, according to the governor.
In case of a worst case scenario, the provincial government of Negros Occidental will use the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City, as the main evacuation center.
The suspension of classes took effect yesterday in La Castellana, La Carlota, Isabela, Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, Bago City, Pulupandan, Valladolid, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Murcia, and Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental, as well as Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
The eruption of Kanlaon volcano affected 213,093 learners in 424 schools in Negros Occidental, as well as Guimaras and Iloilo, where ash fall was reported, according to the Department of Education Western Visayas.
Hernani Escullar Jr., DepEd 6 spokesman, said the affected students will shift to Alternative Delivery Module, to ensure learning continuity.
“It may take a long time before students can return to schools in the affected area,” Escullar admitted.
FACE MASK HOARDING
The Departments of Health, and Trade and Industry reported an increase on the price of face masks, from P5 to P30 each, and the hoarding of supply.
Sermeno said he will call the attention of DTI to address the hoarding of supply and increase of prices.
Engiemar Tupas, DTI senior trade and industry development specialist, said the face masks and other medical supplies are under the jurisdiction of the DOH, while DTI takes charge on prices of basic commodities.*
