By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The Office of Civil Defense Western Visayas (OCD-6) announced that at least 83 households within the four-kilometer permanent danger zone surrounding the crater of Mt. Kanlaon on Negros Island may need to be relocated.
OCD-6 Director Raul Fernandez, who also chairs the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-6), said these households are mostly from La Castellana.
Fernandez stated that the OCD has sought assistance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) to accurately determine the areas included in the danger zone.
He explained that reports about the exact location of the four-kilometer danger zone boundary have varied.
“The first thing we did was ask for the help of DENR and PHIVOLCS to accurately pinpoint the danger zone,” Fernandez said.
“Once we establish the precise radius from the crater, we will mark the area and use it to determine how many households fall within this zone.”
Fernandez added that the identification of danger zones is still subject to further validation.
Once the zones are confirmed, OCD-6 plans to erect metal poles with flags along the identified boundary points to clearly demarcate the area.
He noted that they are closely coordinating with RDRRMC-7 to identify areas in Negros Oriental, particularly in Canlaon City, that will be affected.
Fernandez also said that Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has directed regional offices to adopt a comprehensive, island-wide approach in managing the potential eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.
“The complexity of this issue, which involves both livelihood and economic aspects for the affected families, requires a whole-of-government approach,” Fernandez added.
He pointed out that the local government unit and the DND cannot address the relocation issue alone, and they will need the assistance of other government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Reform.
“After we conducted the contingency planning and simulation exercise, our plan is to hold a special joint meeting with RDRRMC-6 and 7 along with other involved agencies,” Fernandez said.
Mt. Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 2, indicating increased volcanic activity.
PHIVOLCS reported one volcanic earthquake and a sulfur dioxide flux measuring 2,532 tons per day as of August 19.
The volcano’s plume, characterized by moderate steaming, has reached an altitude of 200 meters and is drifting northwest.
