• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Office of the Civil Defense is now preparing for the establishment of tent cities in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, and Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental, to accommodate the expected surge of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in case of another Kanlaon volcano eruption.
OCD Negros Island Region director Donato Sermeno III disclosed on Wednesday that the Vallehermoso tent city can accommodate the projected 55,000 evacuees from Canlaon City.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is also preparing for Plan Exodus, which involves the evacuation of the entire city of Canlaon as the volcano’s eruption continues.
Office of Civil Defense Central Visayas Director Joel Erestain earlier stressed the need to prepare for the worst scenario, raising the possibility that Canlaon City could be buried if Kanlaon volcano erupts again.
It is not that it will literally be erased from the map, Sermeno said, explaining that the evacuation centers within the 10-kilometer radius of the volcano will have to be moved further, outside of Canlaon City.
If there is an eruption, it (evacuation centers) is a must to go out from the 14-kilometer radius, to avoid being hit by pyroclastic materials, he added.
The OCD also identified Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental to host a tent city to accommodate evacuees from La Castellana.
Sermeno said that OCD central office already sent 1,350 family tents, which are temporarily stored in San Carlos City, a neighboring local government unit of Vallehermoso town in Negros Oriental, while 390 family tents are now on the way to Himamaylan City.
He also requested earth pads or rubber matting, in anticipation of rains that may affect the tent cities.
Sermeno, however, said they will first use the available covered areas for evacuees.
For his part, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he will seek clarification from Task Force Kanlaon chief Raul Fernandez on how to maintain the tent city in Himamaylan.
Lacson said he has not heard from the Himamaylan City LGU, whether they are ready to accept and feed the evacuees.
Sermeno said the management of the tent cities will be spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.*
