• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has issued a stark warning, in relation to the ongoing magmatic unrest at Kanlaon volcano, which has been exhibiting heightened activity since its December 9 eruption last year.
“We have entered a period of magmatic unrest following the December eruption, as evidenced by the new magma content in the ash and persistent ash venting,” disclosed Mariton Antonia Bornas, PHIVOLCS chief of the Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division.
From Dec. 25 last year to January 1 this year, Phivolcs has recorded 35 ash emission events. It also logged four more ash emission events, as of noon of Jan. 2.
Relying on scientific data to guide its recommendations, Bornas, said in a statement, “As far as we can see from the data, Kanlaon is preparing to erupt. But when, how, how long, and how large—it is uncertain.”
“The volcanic activity is unpredictable,” she stressed.
“We have no handle on timelines. It is the volcano that determines this.” This uncertainty underscores the critical need for local government units (LGUs) to develop comprehensive preparedness plans. “LGUs can plan for all scenarios, not just one,” Bornas added.
Both Negros Oriental and Occidental are currently under a state of calamity.
As reported by the Department of Health Negros Island Region, there are 4,325 families, composed of 13,920 individuals, occupying 34 evacuation centers in La Castellana, and the cities of Bago, La Carlota, and San Carlos in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson disclosed on Thursday that there is a high possibility that the internally displaced persons (IDPs) will extend their stay at the evacuation centers, three weeks after the latest eruption of the volcano.
Lacson, who will convene a meeting next week with the Office of Civil Defense, PHIVOLCS, and other stakeholders, said that there is no change in the abnormality of Kanlaon volcano, noting that ash emissions appear to be frequent in the past several days.
“What we really need now is divine intervention, or something close to a miracle, for Kanlaon volcano to just suddenly calm down and rest,” the governor said.
While it may be okay for IDPs to stay at the evacuation centers for about three weeks, but they will eventually get tired and weary, he added.
Malacañang recently gave a total of P110 million for Negros island, composed of P60 million for Negros Oriental and P50 million for Negros Occidental, to address the needs of IDPs in evacuation centers.
Lacson admitted that the P50 million, on top of the province’s Quick Response Funds, will not be enough for IDPs in Negros Occidental, should they stay in evacuation centers longer.
Furthermore, Lacson also expressed his concern on the health status of IDPs in the evacuation centers, stressing that “it is safer for them to stay at their respective homes.”
The DOH-NIR earlier disclosed that evacuees in Negros Island are in a stable state of health, with medical concerns being addressed through ongoing consultations.
Asked if everything is in place in case Alert Level 4 will be declared, Lacson said he expects a bigger problem, as far as the evacuation is concerned.*
