• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
While the majority of La Castellana residents affected by the Kanlaon volcano phreatic eruption have gone home, the lack of water supply remains a perennial problem.
Dr. Adriano Suba-an, regional director of Department of Health Western Visayas, yesterday said that they have an agreement with Mayor Rex Jalando-on the transfer of the DOH mobile water treatment plant from La Carlota to La Castellana.
This is to ensure the availability of safe water to La Castellana residents affected by the eruption, and also to prevent the possible diarrhea outbreaks, Suba-an said.
The DOH regional team led by Suba-an visited La Castellana on Tuesday, where he was met by Vice Mayor Alberto Nicor and other town officials, who updated him on the health conditions of town residents.
Aside from water and sanitation, Suba-an said they will also focus on the mental and psycho-social needs of thy internally displaced persons, as well as the needs of health personnel who have been deployed to eruption affected areas since June 4.
He said that they will continue to monitor the potability of drinking water in La Castellana, through the conduct of water testing.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson discouraged La Castellana residents from using their regular sources of water, until such time tests prove that it is already safe to use.
The Department of Health continues the close monitoring of water potability of water in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, due to possible contamination, following the phreatic eruption of Kanlaon volcano.
Lacson also instructed the Provincial Health Office to continuously monitor the sources of potable water in the town.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology logged a single volcanic quake on June 26.
If the volcano calms down for a very long period, maybe we can decide it is safe already, Lacson said.
Alert Level 2 remains in effect at Kanlaon volcano, which indicates increased unrest, according to PHIVOLCS.
As of this time, there are still 51 families staying at an evacuation center in La Castellana.
Those are families residing at the Kanlaon volcano permanent danger zone, Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan disclosed earlier.*
