Canlaon City in Negros Oriental province has ramped up its disaster preparedness efforts by testing a newly implemented siren system designed to warn residents and evacuees of life-threatening volcanic activity from Mt. Kanlaon.
The siren system, tested this week alongside simulations for an Alert Level 4 evacuation, plays a crucial role in the city’s readiness strategy, Edna Lhou Masicampo, the city’s information officer-designate, told the Philippine News Agency on Thursday, January 9.
“The siren is more than just a warning; it’s a life-saving guide,” she said, adding that each duration is coded to provide clear, actionable instructions for residents and evacuees.
A two-minute siren alerts authorized individuals working within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) to leave immediately and head to designated transport areas.
A five-minute siren signals the mandatory evacuation of residents within the expanded danger zone of up to 10 kilometers.
Masicampo emphasized that the system ensures rapid and effective communication during critical moments, particularly as volcanic activity escalates.
However, she noted the need for seamless coordination with the Office of Civil Defense and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), which provide the green light to activate the sirens.
The city government tested the siren system as part of a broader disaster preparedness initiative, including the training of over 100 newly appointed camp managers.
These managers underwent a two-day intensive course on incident management and evacuation protocols to address the growing needs in 10 evacuation centers established after Mt. Kanlaon’s December 9 eruption.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) spearheaded the training after the city government noted that the camp managers spread across 10 evacuation centers since the December 9 eruption are already feeling drained.
Assessment of evacuation centers
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is inspecting evacuation centers to prepare for a possible Alert Level 4 declaration for Mt. Kanlaon.
DSWD-7 teams, alongside Canlaon City disaster officials, assessed shelters in Ayungon, Guihulngan City, and Vallehermoso in Negros Oriental. These include four evacuation centers in Ayungon and eight in Guihulngan City.
Neighboring towns, including La Libertad and Tayasan, are designated to host evacuees under Canlaon City’s contingency plan.
DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero said the assessments were followed by simulation activities, conducted after camp managers completed training on camp coordination, management, and displaced persons protection. (PNA)