By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Amid the ongoing aftermath of the recent Taal volcanic eruption, Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) head, Dr. Zeaphard Caelian, assured Kanlaon, a volcano located on Negros, has not been affected by the eruption, pointing out, the alert level at Kanlaon was lowered to “Alert Level Zero” by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) last year due to the volcano’s “signs of normalcy.”
“Taal and Kanlaon have separate activities,” he added.
Notably, however, Kanlaon, which last erupted in 2006, is considered the third-most active volcano in the Philippines, behind Mayon and Taal.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, who is currently serving as acting governor, alerted local government units surrounding Kanlaon, namely La Carlota City, La Castellana, and Moises Padilla, and called for their respective crisis management teams to immediately act in case of an eruption.
While Kanlaon is currently not showing any abnormalities at this time, the provincial official said localities in the surrounding area should be cautious and closely coordinate with Phivolcs and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council for updates.
“We cannot preempt nature so we should be watchful at all times,” Ferrer warned./DGB, WDJ