BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Due to the increased activity of Kanlaon volcano, the local government of Himamaylan City revisited its disaster management plan upon the advice of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao presided the pre-disaster risk assessment meeting of the city’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council on Monday.
During the meeting key mobilization points such as harmonizing data gathering and banking through the Community Monitoring System were discussed.
Also tackled was developing public advisory modules for preparedness and promoting inter-local cooperation for response and mitigation.
Gatuslao said they have already identified several evacuation sites.
The city has also been chosen by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) central office as a staging area for the storage of relief supplies in case of a volcanic eruption due to the city’s strategic geography for both 5th and 6th districts.
Although Himamaylan City is away from the volcano itself, Gatuslao said based the history of Kanlaon’s eruptions, their city will be directly affected by potential lahar.
A lahar is a violent type of mudflow or debris flow composed of a slurry of pyroclastic material, rocky debris and water. The material flows down from a volcano.
Lahars are extremely destructive; large flows tend to destroy any structures in their path, according to the United States Geological Survey.
Gatuslao said Himamaylan City also served as the evacuation site for residents of the towns of La Castellana and Moises Padilla during past eruptions.
Last week, PHIVOLCS director Dr. Renato Solidum said they currently don’t see a need to increase Kanlaon’s alert level. However, he emphasized that local chief executives must revisit their disaster preparedness plans.
Among the local government units in Negros Occidental that have heeded Solidum’s advice were the cities of San Carlos and Bago, and the town of La Castellana.
Kanlaon volcano showed increased activity early last week but in recent days seemed to have quieted down.
As of yesterday, July 12, PHIVOLCS has only monitored four volcanic earthquakes.
A weak emission plume was also observed around 50 meters tall and drifting to the northwest. The volcano’s edifice has also slightly inflated.
Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 1. Entry to the permanent four-kilometer danger zone is prohibited./PN
