BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. on Friday asked Negrenses not to panic but remain alert amid the unrest of Mt. Kanlaon.
“Don’t let your guard down,” the governor said.
It has been three days since the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) hoisted Alert Level 2, or “moderate level of unrest” on Kanlaon Volcano.
Marañon also called for prayers, believing that “prayer is the best answer and solution.”
The governor said concerned agencies continue to monitor the condition of the active volcano.
As of 8 a.m. Friday, PHIVOLCS said Kanlaon Volcano’s seismic monitoring network recorded 10 volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours. The Thursday bulletin showed 217 volcanic earthquakes recorded so far.
“There is probable intrusion of magma at depth which may or may not lead to a magmatic eruption,” the latest bulletin stressed.
“The PHIVOLCS will advise us if there’s a change in the situation,” Marañon said.
On Thursday, concerned agencies discussed with local government units (LGUs) the identified gaps in the preparations for possible evacuation.
The meeting held at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Bacolod conference hall was led by Jose Roberto Nuñez, head of Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-Western Visayas; and Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, head of Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division.
Caelian said that LGUs seen to be affected already laid their evacuation plans, including the setting up of drop-off points and evacuation centers.
He added that the LGUs were instructed to submit the list of what they need to OCD-Region 6 and the provincial government within the week.
Localities covered by the four-kilometer permanent danger zone are the cities of San Carlos, Bago and La Carlota; and the municipalities of Murcia, La Castellana, Moises Padilla and Salvador Benedicto.
On Wednesday, the provincial government of Negros Occidental activated its Emergency Operations Center to conduct round-the-clock monitoring of the activities of Mount Kanlaon.
Earrlier, Caelian said the public should be ready in case of evacuation especially those residing in danger zones.
“The public should be alert. I can’t say they should not be alarmed because there’s an alert level,” he said. Preparations should be coupled with prayers, he added.
Caelian said they have a list of “most probable areas” that would be affected by the volcanic eruption, based on the simulation conducted. (Marchel Espina/PNA)
