WORST-CASE SCENARIO PREP: 12K individuals near Kanlaon face forced evacuation

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor 

A total of 3,066 families or 12,316 individuals within the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) of Mt. Kanlaon will be affected by the mandatory evacuation, the Regional Task Force Kanlaon reported.

Residents in La Castellana, La Carlota City, Bago City, and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental and Canlaon City and Negros Oriental have until December 16 to evacuate.

As of Dec. 15, The task force already achieved an 81 percent evacuation rate. There are 3,066 families or 12,316 individuals that are within the 6-km PDZ.

Canlaon has the highest number of families affected with 1,277, followed by La Castellana with 983 families, and La Carlota City with 695 families.

The task force said some Indigenous Peoples (IP) families in Canlaon City have expressed reluctance to leave their homes, prompting the Department of the Interior and Local Government to coordinate with the local government unit to enforce evacuation.

Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas of Canlaon City is scheduled to have a dialogue with the tribal chief regarding the evacuation of IPs in Brgys. Masulog and Pula, ensuring that by Dec. 16, all IPs are evacuated.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported a 3-million cubic meter lahar buildup, highlighting the potential risks for communities near the volcano.

“This order is aimed at ensuring the safety and protection of families given the ongoing volcanic activity of Kanlaon and in anticipation for any possible re-eruption or worst-case scenario,” the task force said in a Dec. 14 memorandum.

The task force also outlined in a separate memorandum that window time for entry and exit in the PDZ is at 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. only, and entry beyond the designated time frame is strictly prohibited.

Local government units and law enforcement agencies manning the border controls are tasked to designate pick-up points in case of eruption from Mt. Kanlaon or incidents or emergencies.

The memorandum also noted that barangay officials, in coordination with law enforcement, will validate internally displaced persons (IDPs) entry and exit within the danger zone.

IDPs must also secure an access pass to facilitate movement and carry a valid ID to complement the pass.

A total of 65,850 individuals or 14,943 families from Western and Central Visayas are affected by the ongoing volcanic activity of Mt. Kanlaon. Of these, 15,665 persons from 4,691 families are staying inside evacuation centers (ECs), while 1,099 families or 1,099 individuals are situated outside ECs.

Across the affected areas, there are 28 ECs position, with 23 located in Negros Occidental and 5 in Negros Oriental.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development reported that it has so far disbursed P14.7 million worth of assistance, which includes family food packs, hygiene kits, and sleeping kits.