President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for the creation of a national task force to coordinate government efforts in responding to the impact of Kanlaon Volcano’s eruption and to develop a long-term redevelopment plan for affected communities.
During a situation briefing, the President emphasized the importance of strengthening government preparedness and response to natural disasters.
“It seems necessary to form a Task Force Kanlaon for long-term recovery, including relocations. Plans to purchase land and build new houses should be included. No further construction will take place in the affected area,” Mr. Marcos said.
He directed key government agencies and local government units to collaborate on a comprehensive strategy: “Let’s decide which agencies should be involved [in the task force], then sit down together with all the relevant agencies and put together a plan.”
According to the President, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) will lead the task force.
He also called for the construction of permanent evacuation centers outside the six-kilometer danger zone to provide safer shelters for displaced residents.
Currently, 2,660 families, or 8,509 individuals, are housed in 23 evacuation centers in Western and Central Visayas due to the ongoing volcanic activity. However, if the alert level is raised to 4, as warned by Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum, an additional 90,000 people may need to be evacuated.
The Kanlaon Volcano in Negros experienced 14 volcanic earthquakes on Friday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Saturday. The volcano, which spans the provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental, also released 1,857 tonnes of sulfur dioxide on the same day.
Weak plumes were observed rising from the volcanic crater, reaching heights of up to 75 meters and drifting westward. PHIVOLCS reported that the edifice of Kanlaon Volcano remains inflated. Alert Level 3 (Intensified Unrest/Magmatic Unrest) is still in effect for Kanlaon Volcano.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Marcos eyes task force to address impact of Kanlaon Volcano eruption.”