BACOLOD City – In preparation for potential scenarios involving Mount Kanlaon, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Negros Occidental conducted a full-scale simulation exercise (simex) in La Castellana town on July 5.
The activity was held in observance of this year’s National Disaster Resilience Month, with the La Castellana Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) taking the lead in coordinating the simulation alongside partner agencies.
The simex focused on a possible Alert Level 4 eruption of Mt. Kanlaon and aimed to assess and enhance the preparedness, coordination, and emergency response capabilities of barangays Cabacungan, Manghanoy, Puso, Camandag, and Sag-ang, according to the La Castellana MDRRMO.
The drill included evacuation procedures, early warning dissemination, and inter-agency coordination protocols to ensure community readiness in the event of a volcanic eruption.
Through the exercise, the MDRRMO and its partner agencies evaluated the effectiveness of local contingency plans, identified gaps in logistics and resources, and reinforced the importance of proactive disaster risk reduction. These insights were shared by the local DRRMO through their official Facebook page.
The Negros Occidental Operations Center reported that emergency vehicles and response teams were deployed across key areas. Participating local government units (LGUs) included Bacolod City, Murcia, Bago City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, and Moises Padilla.
The activity is part of the government’s continued efforts to strengthen the disaster preparedness and response mechanisms of LGUs, emergency responders, and communities.
Prior to the simulation, La Castellana’s Mayor Añejo Nicor convened a coordination meeting with the MDRRMO and the local police station to ensure operational readiness for the simex.
The simulation also covered traffic flow management to ensure safe and clear evacuation routes, communication protocols via radio and mobile coordination, and medical response, with ambulances, medical teams, and triage points strategically placed.
This initiative reflects the government’s sustained commitment to building a safe, alert, and resilient La Castellana — a town that has previously suffered heavily from volcanic eruptions, prompting the evacuation of thousands of residents./PN
