ILOILO City – Displaced families from the December 9 eruption of Mount Kanlaon in Negros Island may need to stay in evacuation centers for 21 days or longer as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and partner agencies assess whether to downgrade the volcano’s Alert Level 3 status to Alert Level 2.
Task Force Kanlaon chairperson and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6 director Raul Fernandez reported that as of December 16, 10,784 families or 43,970 individuals were affected. They hailed from areas in Negros Occidental, including Bago City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Murcia, Pontevedra, and San Carlos City, as well as Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
Of this population, 4,275 families (13,688 individuals) remain in 27 evacuation centers, while 694 families (2,366 individuals) have sought shelter elsewhere.
Sustaining Evacuation Centers
Fernandez acknowledged the growing challenges in sustaining operations at evacuation centers, particularly in addressing evacuees’ needs as local government units (LGUs) grapple with depleted resources at year-end.
Task Force Kanlaon has requested additional funds from the Office of the President to support these efforts.
“We are appealing to generous partners for donations of food items, preferably those that evacuees can cook for hot meals, rather than just canned goods,” said Fernandez, noting that evacuees often tire of relief items.
Task Force Kanlaon is also seeking donations of milk and nutritious food for children in evacuation centers. Fernandez cautioned that evacuees might need to stay beyond 21 days if risks remain high for residents near the volcano.
Managing Livelihoods and Movement
Evacuation shelters prohibit livestock, but arrangements have been made to allow evacuees to periodically feed their animals during designated “window periods.” Entry and exit protocols for the 6-kilometer Expanded Danger Zone (EDZ) were formalized on December 14, limiting movement to between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. and requiring valid IDs.
Mandatory evacuation within the EDZ is expected to be 100% complete by December 16. Initial reluctance among some Indigenous Peoples (IP) in Canlaon City has shifted, with many expressing willingness to relocate.
Volcanic Hazards and Preparedness
Mount Kanlaon remains at Alert Level 3, indicating magmatic unrest and an increased risk of sudden eruptions. Hazards include pyroclastic density currents, ashfall, lava flows, and rockfalls. Aviation authorities have warned pilots to avoid the area due to potential ash plumes.
Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils have been directed to prepare for further evacuations if volcanic activity escalates. Weather monitoring is also underway to anticipate sediment-laden flows, or lahars, on the southern slopes triggered by heavy rain.
Authorities are coordinating efforts to ensure evacuees’ safety and well-being during their extended stay./PN
