Cops gear up in case Kanlaon erupts

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here is preparing to deploy 32 officers in case Kanlaon volcano becomes more restive.

Police Colonel Romy Palgue, Nocppo officer-in-charge, said the officers will be assigned to the search and rescue (SAR) team that will help affected Negrenses when the alert level requires mandatory evacuation.

The provincial police headquarters checked the SAR trained personnel and conducted inventory on the equipment at Nocppo headquarters here last Wednesday.

The first and second companies of the Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (NOPMFC) also prepared one platoon each, while police stations near Mt. Kanlaon were directed to ready one SAR team each.

Palgue said he directed the stations to coordinate with their local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils and local government units to plan as early as now their courses of action and to revisit their contingency plans.

On June 23, 2020 at least 23 families composed of 98 individuals at Barangay Ilijan, Bago City, which is situated at the foot of the volcano, were evacuated due to a tremor, smell of sulfur, and rumbling sound from Mt. Kanlaon.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that a 3.6-magnitude earthquake was recorded in La Carlota City at 7 p.m. Tuesday and was felt at Intensity II in Bago.

According to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), the evacuees were temporarily sheltered at the R and S Abindan Elementary School before returning to their respective homes the following day.

Assessment was also conducted to prepare residents for emergencies.

A total of 322 volcanic-tectonic earthquakes were already recorded at Kanlaon Volcano, which remained at Alert Level 1, since Sunday until 8 a.m. Thursday.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson assured the public that contingency plans are in place and nearby areas have been reminded to be on alert.