The Negros Occidental Provincial Government is considering declaring a state of calamity following Kanlaon Volcano’s renewed eruption yesterday afternoon, which has affected thousands of residents across the province.
Governor Eugenio Lacson said the declaration would allow the use of the province’s P78 million calamity fund to provide immediate assistance to the affected communities.
Various government agencies have mobilized to support the displaced families. The provincial government has dispatched buses to assist in the evacuation of residents from impacted towns and cities.
According to the Office of Civil Defense-Western Visayas (OCD-6), 3,470 families or 11,720 individuals from the towns of La Castellana, Murcia, Pontevedra, and Moises Padilla, as well as the cities of Bago and La Carlota, have been displaced.
OCD-6 Spokesperson Maria Christina Mayor stated that member agencies of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-6) are collaborating with local government units to meet the needs of evacuees.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government is ready to assist families affected by Mount Kanlaon.
According to the President, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian arrived in the Negros Island Region early in the day to oversee relief operations.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) are monitoring air quality near the eruption site.
Authorities are assessing the levels of toxic gases to determine if additional evacuations are necessary.
On Monday afternoon, Kanlaon Volcano was raised to Alert Level 3 or magmatic unrest, following an explosive eruption on its summit.
The Philippine Red Cross meanwhile advised affected residents to wear masks to prevent respiratory issues.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday called on residents of La Castellana in Negros Occidental and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental to evacuate without delay, as these areas fall within Mount Kanlaon's six-kilometer danger zone.
In an interview with the media, Teodoro estimated that around 54,000 people are residing in these areas. He added the ongoing evacuations are not preemptive but “forced evacuations.”
The DND chief said they are "preparing for the worst" should the alert level status be hoisted to Level 4, which means that the danger zone radius could also increase to within 10 kilometers.