The Environmental Management Bureau in Western Visayas (EMB-6) has reported that air quality near Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Occidental remains within the “fair to good” index as of December 14, 2024, ensuring safety for most residents.

Cliff Jefferson Escobar of EMB-6 said yesterday that five monitoring stations have been established following the December 9 eruption.

These include regular sites in Barangays Ara-al in La Carlota City and Robles in La Castellana, as well as temporary stations at evacuation centers in La Castellana Elementary School, Barangay Balingasag Sports Complex in Bago City, and Barangay Cubay in La Carlota.

“As of December 14, our air quality results are within the fair to good quality index. They are still safe, however, in some stations, for sensitive communities and those who are sick, little precautions for them,” he said during a media forum.

The best air quality was recorded in Barangay Robles and the La Carlota evacuation center, while other stations reported fair conditions.

To enhance monitoring, real-time air quality sensors are being installed at the La Carlota evacuation center to measure particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) and gases like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide on an hourly basis.

The EMB central office has allocated P618,450 for year-long ambient air quality monitoring in the Mt. Kanlaon area.

Meanwhile, Civil Defense Regional Director Raul Fernandez, in the same forum, said that as of 8:00 a.m. yesterday, 4,911 families or 16,174 individuals from Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental are staying in evacuation centers, representing a 93.73 percent evacuation rate for families within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone.

There is still an ongoing evacuation in Canlaon City, particularly the indigenous people’s communities, although they have already evacuated over 500 individuals. (PNA)