• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Farmers have resumed the harvesting of mature sugarcanes within the six kilometer extended danger zone of Kanlaon volcano, after the Office of the Civil Defense lifted its suspension.
Donato Sermeno III, Office of the Civil Defense regional director of Negros Island Region, said the suspension of cane harvesting, and allowing farmers, as well heads of families to attend to their sources of livelihood at the danger zone, was triggered by the advisory issued on January 11 by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, due to occurrence of numerous volcanic quakes and tremors, and continued ash eruptions at Kanlaon.
The resumption of human activities at the Barangay Mansalanao danger zone in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, as requested by the concerned local government, which is allowed from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., is closely monitored by the Regional Incident Management Team (IMT) of the OCD, in tandem with local IMT.
Sermeno said the supervised farming activities at the danger zone will also be allowed in other local government units, with the “window time” also from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., if requested.
This aims to balance the safety of evacuees with the need to sustain their livelihood, particularly during the harvest season, he added.
Strict monitoring and coordination are in place to ensure the safety of farmers while they conduct their activities, Sermeno further said.
With this development, the OCD head for NIR said they are trying to improve the system, in terms of readiness for the evacuation of farmers, in case Kanlaon volcano erupts.
Alert Level 3 remains hoisted over Kanlaon volcano.
Two ash emissions were recorded by PHIVOLCS on Monday, January 20, at 8:33 a.m. and 1:36 p.m.
A total of 13 volcanic quakes, including two volcanic tremors, nine to 23 minutes long, were also recorded by PHIVOLCS.*
