• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
As degassing and ashing events continue at the Kanlaon volcano, the Office of the Civil Defense established Task Group Kanlaon to ensure smooth coordination and immediate intervention among government agencies and concerned local governments, in case of a worst scenario.
The OCD designated Donato Sermeno III as the chairperson, with OCD 6 head Raul Fernandez and OCD 7 regional director Joel Erastain as vice chairpersons.
Sermeno and Fernandez, in compliance with the order of OCD chief Ariel Nepomuceno, yesterday visited La Carlota, La Castellana, and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental, to look into the situation on the ground, and determine the effects of ashfall to residents in those areas.
Fernandez said they have not received any reports of health related issues related to the ash fall. He, however, said the ash fall has affected crops in Canlaon City, although they are still trying to determine the estimated value of the damage, as of this time.
A bulletin issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology on November 13 recorded two ash events, which were four to 11 minutes long, and 19 volcanic quakes. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions was reported at 3,579 tons on November 11.
“We cannot always order them (local government units) to conduct preemptive evacuation because it entails depletion of our resources,” Fernandez said.
But he said LGUs are fully capacitated, as they know the drill on the ground. They can assess the situation better, especially the affected population, he said, stressing that they are continuously providing PHIVOLCS advisories and warnings from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council as to the behavior of Kanlaon.
Fernandez also encourages limited movements during ashfall, and for the public to always wear face masks, both indoors and outdoors, if there is a sulfurous odor in their areas.
He also said that the declaration of Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park Protected Area Management Board also held in abeyance its approval of the delineation of Special Protection Zone (SPZ), within the four kilometer permanent danger zone of Kanlaon, until such time that there are concrete plans on the relocation of affected residents.*
