• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Amid continued restiveness of Kanlaon Volcano, Mayor Rex Jalando-on has prohibited mass gatherings at the public plaza and the oval of Doña Hortensia Salas-Benedicto National High School, in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.
The executive order issued by Jalando-on came following recommendation made by the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council that such gatherings during volcanic unrest “can heighten community vulnerability and impede emergency response operations.”
Citing reports of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the CDRRMC said that ash emissions and minor explosive eruption maybe signs of an impending major eruption.
Jalando-on further cancelled all activities at the city gymnasiums and oval starting April 26, in preparation for a possible evacuation of its residents.
The annual Pasalamat Festival of La Carlota City, which was supposed to kick off April 21 to 27, was postponed to a later date by Jalando-on.
The CDRRMC Council also enjoined the public to wear face masks when outdoors, stressing that volcanic ash exposure can cause respiratory issues, such as eye and skin irritation, and other health risks, especially in open or poorly ventilated areas.
In an advisory, PHIVOLCS logged seven volcanic quakes as of 12 a.m. of April 22, and emission of 3,562 tons of sulfur dioxide at Kanlaon Volcano.*
