By Paulo Loreto Lim

With the upcoming Holy Week observance and Mt. Kanlaon still under an Alert Level 1, according to a Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) bulletin as of yesterday morning, the Negros Occidental Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) declared a ban on trekking.
Local PENRO head Edgardo Rustata said Bantay Bukid, or forest guards, have already been deployed and will be monitoring various entry points.
As of press time, no attempted trekking expeditions have been reported.
According to Phivolcs, an Alert Level 1 signals a “slight increase in volcanic earthquake and steam/gas activity,” illustrated by “notable increase in the temperature, acidity, and volcanic gas concentrations of monitored springs.”
Phivolcs recommends the public keep a four-kilometer radius outside the permanent danger zone (PDZ), where “sudden and hazardous steam-driven or minor ash eruptions” are possible.
Meanwhile, following the recent 5.5 magnitude earthquake in Batangas, Phivolcs has dismissed rumors the tremor is an indicator Mt. Banahaw, located between the provinces of Laguna and Quezon, will soon erupt./WDJ