DILG to LGUs: Get ready amid Kanlaon, Taal unrest

ALL GRAY Rooftops and the once verdant landscape at Barangay Mailum in Bago City, Negros Occidental, turn gray, shown in a drone shot on Saturday, following Kanlaon Volcano’s three-minute minor eruption on Friday night, followed by a series of ash emissions on Saturday morning. —RUEL CADIGAL /CONTRIBUTOR

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) instructed local government units (LGUs) to prepare their personnel and supplies amid unrest at Mt. Kanlaon on Negros Island and Taal Volcano in Batangas.

Kanlaon had a minor eruption on Friday and ashfall events on Saturday, while Taal had three minor phreatic and phreatomagmatic eruptions last Saturday.

The DILG, in a statement on Monday, said the concerned LGUs were directed to “activate their local disaster risk reduction and management councils (DRMMCs), preposition emergency supplies and ensure the readiness and safety of evacuation centers.”

“Continuous coordination with Phivolcs (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) and concerned local authorities is strongly urged,” it added.

The department also urged the public to wear N95 masks and prepare emergency go bags.

The DILG reiterated that residents must stay away from the Taal Volcano Island as well as the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone surrounding the Kanlaon Volcano.

Kanlaon Volcano still remains under alert level 2 (moderate level of volcanic unrest), while Taal Volcano was still under alert level 1 (low level of volcanic unrest), according to Phivolcs.

ASH CLOUD Kanlaon Volcano emits ash from 1:48 p.m. to 1:52 p.m. on Monday, as shown in this image from a video posted by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on its Facebook page. —PHOTO FROM PHIVOLCS FACEBOOK PAGE

All set

Before the DILG order, however, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental localities surrounding Kanlaon Volcano have already activated their respective DRRMCs, which have been directed to be ready to respond in case evacuation is required.

Kanlaon’s minor explosive eruption last Friday caused ashfall in and enveloped with sulfuric stench some 18 barangays in seven towns and cities on Negros Island, and emitted ash at least three times on Saturday morning, the Office of Civil Defense in Negros Island Region (OCD NIR) reported.

The ashfall contaminated open water sources in some areas in Mailum, Bago City, OCD NIR director Donato Sermeno III said on Sunday.

The OCD NIR said that areas affected by ashfall and sulfuric stench were 10 villages in Bago City, two villages each in Negros Occidental’s Castellana town and Negros Oriental’s Canlaon City; one village each in La Carlota City, San Carlos City, Pontevedra and Murcia all in Negros Occidental; and even as far as Punta Taytay, Bacolod City, on Friday evening.

Bago Mayor Marina “Mayette” Javellana-Yao on Sunday said the city government distributed drinking water to residents of Barangay Mailum, whose water sources had been affected by ashfall.

Mailum Barangay Captain Melchor Sayco said they have contacted the City Health Office to conduct a safety test on the water in the affected communities.

The NIR–Center for Health Development (NIR-CHD) also conducted on Saturday a field visit to assess the health situation in Barangays Mailum, Ilijan, and Ma-ao of Bago City.

During the activity, face masks were distributed to residents and the health conditions of the communities were evaluated.

Javellana-Yao said they were still determining if the ashfall damaged crops in the city.