The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) lifted the daytime entry ban on the six-kilometer Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) around Kanlaon Volcano effective Thursday, June 26.
The restriction, which was in place from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., had been imposed due to the volcano’s heightened activity.
OCD Negros Island Region director and Task Force Kanlaon vice chairperson Donato Sermeno III announced that displaced residents temporarily staying in evacuation centers can now enter the EDZ during a 10-hour window to carry out essential activities, including farming.
The decision followed the latest Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) bulletin, which reported a decline in volcanic activity. From 5 a.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. Thursday, only four volcanic earthquakes were recorded, alongside a sulfur dioxide flux of 2,382 tons.
The entry ban had initially been enforced on June 24 when an increase in volcanic earthquakes and a significant drop in sulfur dioxide emissions raised concerns about blocked conduits potentially leading to explosive eruptions.
Phivolcs earlier warned that such blockages could result in over-pressurization, heightening eruption risks.
Despite the eased restrictions, residents are cautioned to remain vigilant as Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3 (High Level of Volcanic Unrest).
The relaxation of the ban only provides evacuees with the opportunity to tend to their farms and livestock, enabling them to earn a livelihood.
