The Office of the Civil Defense – Negros Island Region has prohibited entry into the extended 6-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of Kanlaon Volcano for “unnecessary activities,” even during the allowed window period from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
That is due to the continued ash eruption activities of Kanlaon Volcano, according to Donato Sermeno III, OCD regional director for Negros Island Region.
OCD only allows Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) to conduct essential activities within the PDZ.
From March 31 to April 2, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has recorded seven ash eruption events, lasting from three minutes to 77 minutes, generating grayish plumes that rose to 400 meters above the crater.
Light ashfall was reported in Sitio Guintubdan, Barangay Ara-al, La Carlota City and in the barangays of Binubuhan, Ilijan, Ma-ao, and Mailum in Bago City, where the odor of sulfur was monitored by PHIVOLCS.
On April 9, the 7,900 families, or 24,891 individuals affected by the volcanic activity, will mark four months of stay inside and outside of evacuation centers.
Dr. Merijene Ortizo, head of the Bago City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said that ash fall may have occurred inside the 6-kilometer danger zone which has already been vacated by residents.
On the other hand, Sermeno disclosed that OCD is studying proposed sites of the barangays of Talaptap and Lalagsan in La Castellana as the permanent relocation sites for 13 families, composed of 36 individuals, who were residing in Brgy. Masulog, which is located within the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone of the volcano. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds)