ILOILO City – The Department of Tourism (DOT) has suspended tourist activities near or within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone of Mount Kanlaon on Negros Island as a precautionary measure following the volcano’s eruption on December 9.
Reports from DOT regional offices in Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region indicate that tourism stakeholders in areas experiencing heavy ashfall have been affected. These include municipalities and cities in Negros Occidental such as La Castellana, La Carlota City, Bago City, and Murcia, as well as Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
Suspended activities include trekking, swimming, farm site visits, and day tours.
Specific attractions temporarily closed are Guintubdan Spring, Buenos Aires Resort, Mambukal Resort, Sugar Valley Coffee Farm, and other sites within the danger zone.
Canlaon City has also shut down Kanlaon Inland Resort and Eco-Tourism, Padudusan Falls, Bao-bao Viewing Deck, and Quipot Falls to ensure public safety.
“While no injuries, fatalities, or stranded tourists have been reported, travellers are strongly advised to avoid destinations within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone and areas heavily affected by ashfall,” stated the DOT Central Office under Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco in an advisory.
Kanlaon Volcano, a stratovolcano standing at 2,465 meters above sea level, straddles the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental. Known as the highest peak in the Visayas, it is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines.
Tourists are urged to monitor updates from local government units (LGUs), disaster response authorities, and DOT regional offices.
DOT assured the public that the safety of tourists and local communities remains a priority, encouraging vigilance during this time.
DOT Region 6, led by Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez, has also issued a tourism advisory, directing tourism offices and stakeholders near Mount Kanlaon to activate tourist assistance and emergency units to support affected travellers.
The volcano erupted explosively at 3:03 p.m. on December 9, with the event lasting nearly four minutes.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has raised Alert Level 3 (Magmatic Unrest), signaling an increased likelihood of sudden and stronger explosive eruptions.
Communities within six kilometers of the summit crater have been advised to evacuate due to potential life-threatening volcanic hazards such as pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), ballistic projectiles, ashfall, lava flows, and rockfalls.
Local government units and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) councils are urged to closely monitor weather conditions to anticipate lahars and sediment-laden streamflows during heavy rainfall.
Civil aviation authorities have also been instructed to advise pilots to avoid the volcano’s summit due to ash hazards.
DOT advises tourists to take precautions, stay updated through credible news sources, coordinate with airlines and accommodation providers, and adhere to safety protocols issued by local authorities.
Kanlaon has over 30 recorded eruptions since 1819. Its most violent eruption in recent history occurred in August 1996, when a sudden explosion killed three climbers and injured 18 others./PN
