Kanlaon Volcano Entry Ban Eased During Daytime Hours

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – The Office of Civil Defense-Western Visayas (OCD-WV) has lifted the entry ban within the 6-kilometer Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) of Kanlaon Volcano during the 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. window period.

OCD-WV Regional Director Raul Fernandez said over the weekend that the decision was based on the latest Kanlaon Volcano Bulletin from the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) dated May 30, 2025.

The bulletin reported 12 volcanic earthquakes, a sulfur dioxide flux of 1,012 tonnes per day as of May 29, and a weak plume 200 meters tall drifting northwest.

Fernandez said entry to the EDZ will be allowed starting May 31, 2025, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. to enable farming and other essential activities.

He issued a memorandum to that effect on Friday.

Fernandez emphasized that Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3, which signifies a state of intensified or magmatic unrest.

Together with Task Force Kanlaon, Fernandez advised local disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) offices of affected local government units (LGUs), in coordination with the Law and Order Cluster, to strictly monitor the situation and take preemptive measures as needed.

Earlier, Fernandez had announced that entry would be temporarily suspended until volcanic conditions returned to low unrest.

The Regional Task Force Kanlaon had reinstated the entry suspension during the 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. window following increased volcanic activity.

PHIVOLCS reported 31 volcanic earthquakes, a sulfur dioxide flux of 1,020 tonnes and a 700-meter plume as of midnight on May 27.

The renewed restriction took effect on May 28, 2025.