The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 6 said a plan has been devised in case Kanlaon volcano, an active stratovolcano in Negros Island, erupts.
Following the eruption of Taal volcano in Batangas last January 2020, the OCD-6 headed by Director Jose Roberto Nuñez, various agencies and local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental crafted a contingency plan.
“We saw how the people especially from the Calabarzon region experienced the eruption, and us here, in partnership with Region 7, nag-initiate to craft a contingency plan para at least preparado kita,” said OCD-6 spokesperson Cindy Ferrer. The plan has also been disseminated.
Ferrer underscored the designation of various functions to partnered entities in time of the eruption.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) would be in-charge for the primary necessities of the evacuees, while OCD-6 would take care of the logistics, Ferrer said.
Further, concerned LGUs will lead the overall response; the Department of Health (DOH) will handle the deployment of emergency vehicles and management of the health of the evacuees; and the Philippine National Police (PNP) will ensure order in evacuation centers.
Ferrer said a simulation exercise was held in November last year “para ma-practice ang amon preparation nga na-integrate sa contingency plan.”
Those residing near Kanlaon volcano are also advised to be aware of their dedicated evacuation centers.
The current COVID-19 pandemic was also not taken out of the picture.
“What if mag-erupt ang Kanlaon and naga-suffer kita gihapon sa COVID-19?” Ferrer posed. “So, gin-practice namon nga during evacuation, may social distancing, naka-mask…tapos ang kabataan kon paano ma-handle sang maayo.”
She also noted that the OCD-central office is disseminating their practices to its regional offices with the ongoing Taal unrest.
Meanwhile, Ferrer added that Negros Occidental is also tightening its eruption watch, and in fact, it even invested to equipment to monitor Kanlaon’s real-time activity.
Kanlaon volcano, as of this writing, was on Alert Level 1. The Phivolcs warned of possible steam or phreatic explosions. (Ime Sornito)/WDJ