• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Almost all the workers of the Sugar Regulatory Administration research facility in Barangay La Granja, La Carlota City in Negros Occidental, have been evacuated due to heavy ashfall triggered by the explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano yesterday.
The SRA research center has 227 workers.
However, 20 personnel of the facility, majority of which are security guards, were tasked to secure the SRA research center.
At the same time, SRA administrator Pablo Luis Azcona activated the facility’s Disaster Response Team headed by Board Member David Sanson, with all its vehicles ready to be deployed when requested by local government units.
Sanson said they are now closely monitoring the present situation of Kanlaon Volcano, with relief supplies in place if and when needed.
The SRA, he further said, allocated some P4 million for other emergency supplies.
While the SRA research center equipment has been secured, the ashfall may cause damage to its nursery, where they are propagating sugarcane varieties in an open field, for distribution to farmers.
The ash fall is acidic and can damage sugarcane crops, Sanson said.*
