Alternative scheme; La Castellana has yet to finalize Kanlaon contingency plans

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology held "Phivolcs InfoPress,” a seminar tailored for media practitioners and government information officers from local government units and national government agencies at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol yesterday, February 19, 2025. The seminar was intended to clarify commonly used volcano-related terms, present the updated volcanic hazards and eruption scenarios, and provide guidelines on properly preparing and responding to threats posed by Kanlaon Volcano. (PIA Negros Occidental photo) — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology held “Phivolcs InfoPress,” a seminar tailored for media practitioners and government information officers from local government units and national government agencies at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol yesterday, February 19, 2025. The seminar was intended to clarify commonly used volcano-related terms, present the updated volcanic hazards and eruption scenarios, and provide guidelines on properly preparing and responding to threats posed by Kanlaon Volcano. (PIA Negros Occidental photo)

BY JEN BAYLON

The Office of Civil Defense in Western Visayas (OCD-6) said the designation of evacuation centers for evacuees in La Castellana town in case Kanlaon Volcano erupts depends on the municipal government.

This comes after the La Castellana municipal government has yet to finalize and establish its evacuation contingency plans if Kanlaon suddenly erupts.

OCD-6 Director Raul Fernandez said they are trying to persuade La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Mangilimutan about her decision regarding the location of the evacuation centers in the town.

Earlier, Mangilimutan had been pushing for the evacuation facility to be located in Barangay Nato, which is 16 kilometers from Kanlaon.

However, Fernandez said the land where the proposed facility is to be established is still being negotiated.

Fernandez said OCD-6 will only prepare in case the volcano’s alert level rises.

“In case the municipality cannot handle or is overwhelmed, at least we will have a place for internally displaced persons,” Fernandez said.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections in Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) is also awaiting the decision of the La Castellana municipal government on where it plans to relocate its residents in case Alert Level 4 is declared at Kanlaon.

Comelec-NIR Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano said Mangilimutan does not want to transfer affected residents to the tent city being put up in Negros Occidental’s Himamaylan City.

Mangilimutan wants them to evacuate to other barangays but only within the town, Castillano said.

Only La Castellana has failed to complete its contingency plan, identifying facilities where residents will be evacuated in case of another eruption.

Comelec also needs to establish its own contingency plans on where to set up polling centers for the May 12 midterm elections, as this will need funding and approval from the Comelec en banc.

Earlier, OCD data showed that if Alert Level 4 — covering a six to four kilometer danger zone — is declared, a total of 8,139 families, composed of 30,258 individuals, in La Castellana will be affected./JB, WDJ

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