New bridge sought to boost Kanlaon evacuation readiness

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, emphasized the urgent need for a new permanent bridge to ensure safe evacuation in the event of a Mount Kanlaon eruption and heavy flooding.

“If Kanlaon erupts and it rains heavily, Moises Padilla will have no access roads or exit routes,” Garcia-Yulo told reporters Thursday, adding, “That’s why we need to be prepared.”

The mayor made the remarks at the provincial capitol ahead of her meeting with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and other mayors affected by volcanic activity.

She said the town’s contingency plan includes relocating residents from the poblacion (town center) to Barangay Inolingan.

“Our plan is to move everyone toward Inolingan so that the people of the poblacion can safely evacuate,” she said.

The current 20-year-old hanging steel bridge connecting these areas may not withstand heavy flooding or the weight of evacuees, Garcia-Yulo warned.

“Once it rains in the mountains, flooding immediately follows,” she said.

“The hanging bridge we have now may not be able to handle 30,000 evacuees.”

She added, “It’s uncertain if it can still be crossed once the river overflows up to 80 meters.”

To address these risks, OCD officials visited Moises Padilla on October 28 to assess proposed infrastructure projects worth PHP 300 million under the Kanlaon Recovery and Development Program.

Mayor Garcia-Yulo and Vice Mayor Felix Mathias Segundo “Pimpoy” Yulo III welcomed the OCD delegation led by NIR Regional Director Donato Sermeno III, who spearheaded the validation of priority infrastructure needs.

The proposed projects include PHP 250 million for the construction of a permanent bridge between Barangay 1 and Barangay Inolingan, which currently rely on a spillway and hanging bridge.

Another PHP 50 million is allocated for a new spillway and hanging bridge connecting Purok Paho and Hacienda Pucatod in Barangay Odiong.

Also present during the evaluation were Barangay 1 Captain Francis Bernard Garcia, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Reynald Horegue, and Municipal Engineer Agnes Glia Mabag.

Garcia-Yulo expressed gratitude to OCD for its support, saying the agency’s partnership with the local government enhances disaster preparedness and strengthens resilience.

She confirmed that validation and planning workshops are underway not only for Moises Padilla but also for neighboring La Castellana.

Project implementation is targeted between 2026 and 2027.

“The local government remains committed to securing national funding for rehabilitation and infrastructure projects that will ensure the safety and well-being of our people,” Garcia-Yulo said.