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OCD bracing to evacuate 100K people if Kanlaon Volcano erupts

• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, OCD Region 6 Director Raul Fernandez, and Antonia Bornas of Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, with La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan, met with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz at the Governor’s Office for updates regarding the status of Kanlaon Volcano and the current situation of evacuees.* Capitol PIO photo

The Office of the Civil Defense is preparing for the evacuation of 100,000 individuals if Kanlaon volcano erupts.

OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno has also reiterated his appeal for evacuees, even those who were sent home last week, to stay at evacuation centers.

Nepomuceno made the appeal as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) warned of the possibility of an imminent and explosive eruption of Kanlaon volcano.

More than 2,500 individuals were sent home last week by local governments of La Castellana, and the cities of Bago and La Carlota.

Records of the Department of Social Welfare and Development indicate that there are 3,621 families, composed of 11,371 persons, staying inside and outside of evacuation centers, as of this time.

If Alert Level 4 is declared, Nepomuceno said the danger zone will be extended from six to ten kilometers, which would cover those evacuees who were recently allowed to go home by their respective local government units.

While he understands the sentiments of evacuees who have been staying at the evacuation centers for more than a month already, and the pressure on the local government units concerned, Nepomuceno, however, expressed his concerns “on how fast we can evacuate, if there is a need, the additional 100,000 people.”

Noting that it took two days to evacuate 2,000 people during the December 9 eruption, the OCD chief asked “how much more for 100,000 persons. Do we have enough time during Alert Level 4 to evacuate them, with no one dead.”

Nepomuceno, who met with Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Mayor Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan, and local disaster officials at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Wednesday, said the OCD is looking into the details of any evacuation, in coordination with the LGUs.

Ma. Antonia Bornas, Science Research Specialist of Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division of PHIVOLCS-DOST, also briefed them on the present status of Kanlaon volcano.

The OCD has identified 35 barangays in La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, and the cities of Bago and La Carlota, in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Occidental, that maybe affected by pycroclastic flow hazards, in case of another Kanlaon volcano eruption.

Pyroclastic Density Currents (PDCs), are fast-moving flows of volcanic particles, hot gases, and ash that rush down from the volcanic slopes.

Nepomuceno also assured all evacuees that all departments of the national government are ready to provide assistance in food, health care services and medicines, financial and temporary livelihood opportunities, in case Kanlaon Volcano erupts.

Task Force Kanlaon (TFK) is also preparing a nine-hectare “tent city” in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, which they are looking into as a pilot area to accommodate the spillover of La Castellana evacuees, in case of another Kanlaon eruption.

TFK commander Raul Fernandez, who is the OCD 6 director, said they are also looking at the local government units of Talisay and Silay cities, as well as the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City, all in Negros Occidental, and Vallehermoso and Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental, to shelter internally displaced persons (IDPs), in case the need arises.*

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