NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – The Task Force Kanlaon (TFK) has sounded the alarm over the decision of local governments in Negros Occidental to allow more than 4,000 evacuees living outside the six-kilometer permanent danger zone to return home starting Wednesday, January 8, despite the continued threat posed by the Kanlaon Volcano.
TFK head Raul Fernandez told Rappler on Thursday, January 9, that he disagreed with the decision to allow evacuees from La Castellana and the cities of Bago and La Carlota to return to their homes, even if they are located outside the danger zone.
“Not at this time,” Fernandez said. “The danger is still there. Kanlaon remains unpredictable. With the volcano still at Alert Level 3, the risk of an eruption remains high. If another eruption happens, it will be chaotic to evacuate the multitude of people again, including those who were allowed to go home.”
TFK estimates that around 124,000 residents from the 10-kilometer radius of the volcano would need to be evacuated from both the Occidental and Oriental sides of Negros Island if another Kanlaon eruption occurs.
Fernandez said he preferred that other Kanlaon evacuees in Negros Occidental be gradually moved to the designated “Tent City” in Barangay 3, Himamaylan City, in southern Negros Occidental.
On Wednesday, 1,530 tents from the United States Agency for International Development, and the World Food Program arrived in Himamaylan.
Each tent, measuring 4×4 meters, can accommodate one family of five to seven members.
Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongson told Rappler they are now prepared to host the “Tent City” at a site previously used for the 2023 Provincial Boy Scout Jamboree.
The decision to allow some evacuees to return home was made during a meeting between Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and the mayors of La Castellana, Bago, and La Carlota at the provincial capitol in Bacolod City on Tuesday, January 7.
Upon assessment, more than 4,000 evacuees out of the current total of 8,732 in Negros Occidental were found to be living outside the six-kilometer danger zone.
Most of them are among La Castellana’s 6,723 residents who were displaced after Kanlaon’s December 9, 2024 eruption.
In nearby Bago City, Mayor Nicholas Yulo said 128 of their 150 evacuee families were also allowed to return home for the same reason.
On Wednesday, TFK reported that Kanlaon Volcano spewed ash twice for about two hours.
“That’s why all indicators still point to the imminent danger of another Kanlaon eruption. We’re just taking a cue from the Phivolcs (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology),” Fernandez said.
He said La Castellana is still projected to be the most severely affected locality in the event the volcano erupts again.
La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilmutan said the town badly needs more assistance, particularly food supplies. She said their resources were being strained.
La Castellana consumes 45 sacks of rice per day for the evacuees, along with P50 per meal per person for viands.
“It’s no joke. Even our budget for peace and order has been used for the evacuees,” Mangilmutan said.
The provincial government augmented La Castellana’s food assistance for evacuees through its
quick response fund (QRF) after declaring a state of calamity on December 13, 2024, but the aid lasted for only one week.
On Monday, January 6, the provincial capitol announced it would take a pause in providing assistance.
Malacañang has released P50 million in financial aid for Negros Occidental Kanlaon evacuees, and its disbursement was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Tuesday.
However, it remains unclear whether the funds will be allocated for food or shelter assistance for the evacuees. – Rappler.com
