By Paulo Loreto Lim

Amid the ongoing investigation of the recent series of earthquakes that struck the town of Valencia in Negros Oriental, the local Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported a drastic drop in the number of earthquakes over the weekend.

According to Phivolcs Seismic Station officer-in-charge Jose Molas, after a total 28 earthquakes were previously recorded in the town within a 24-hour period, two earthquakes were recorded over the weekend.

Molas noted, most of the recent quakes were too small to record a magnitude.

“This is an indication that the ground shaking was slowly decreasing,” he affirmed.

Last week, however, Silliman University physics professor Francisco Ablong, Jr. challenged the institute’s position, which earlier noted, Mt. Talinis, a volcano located in Valencia, was considered inactive, and claimed the earthquakes were volcanic in nature.

He believes the volcano is actually “potentially active,” referring to a volcano that has no record of eruptions.

The professor also posed a challenge to Phivolcs, recommending they stay for a few days to examine Mt. Talinis and its surroundings./PLL, WDJ