By JEN BAYLON
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson suggests that it would be crucial to wait for a recommendation from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) before allowing residents affected by the phreatic eruption of Kanlaon Volcano to return to their homes.
“We will continue to observe because if the volcano has calmed down for a very long period of time, maybe we can declare it safe,” Lacson said.
He added that the provincial government will soon identify potential relocation sites for residents living within Kanlaon’s four-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ).
Lacson also urged the La Castellana government to work together to find suitable relocation sites for the evacuees.
“Let them identify where that site is. I hope there is a site possible there sa La Castellana because, definitely, they don’t want to be relocated very far away from their usual domain,” Lacson said.
“Importante may identity. Diin ‘ni ang probable sites? We will help them because when you say relocation, that has become the permanent site already. So, indi na ‘na sila ma-consider squatters,” he added.
Meanwhile, John de Asis, head of the La Castellana Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said affected residents of Barangays Biak na Bato and Cabagnaan, living within the PDZ will be relocated, as the local government unit is now studying the proposal.
“It may take a longer time to relocate them,” De Asis said.
He said there are still 39 families or 116 residents inside evacuation centers in the town.
Their return to their homes will depend on the situation of the volcano.
On Friday, June 21, around 190 families or 689 residents returned to Barangay Cabagna-an, while 179 families or 561 residents returned to Barangay Sag-ang on Thursday, June 20.
About 170 more families or 565 residents also returned to Cabagna-an last week.
Meanwhile, Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 2, indicating that a phreatic eruption is possible and hazardous volcanic activity is ongoing./JB, WDJ