The local government unit (LGU) of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental has begun its nighttime evacuation drills for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other residents in case of a major volcanic eruption of the restive Mt. Kanlaon.

Edna Lhou Masicampo, Canlaon City information officer-designate, said in an interview on Thursday, February 6, that the nighttime simulated exercise (simex) was held on Wednesday, February 5, and would be regularly undertaken.

“We have been regularly conducting evacuation drills during daytime, but residents are clamoring for an evening scenario in case the volcano will erupt during nighttime,” she said.

It is also during this time that the husbands and other male family members return to the evacuation centers from their farms where they worked during daytime, she added.

The LGU issued advisories ahead of schedule that cautioned constituents not to panic when the sirens sound off to alert them of the need to evacuate.

The SIMEX drills are not just for internally displaced persons at evacuation camps but also for the other residents of Canlaon City, Masicampo said.

She added that regular updates and meetings are held for a possible Alert Level 4 scenario when the permanent danger zone (PDZ) is extended from the current six-kilometer radius to as much as 12 kilometers.

This means more barangays will be covered by the mandatory forced evacuation.

Meanwhile, the city government led by Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas turned over on Wednesday a locally-funded wet market facility worth P20 million.

The construction of the facility was completed last year before the December 9 eruption of Mt. Kanlaon but the turnover was delayed due to post-eruption events, Masicampo said.

The wet market is located in Barangay Panubigan, situated far from the PDZ, and is seen to provide farmers and fishers with decent space for their goods. (PNA)