By JEN BAYLON
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has ordered the evacuation of its personnel from its research facility at Barangay La Granja in Negros Occidental’s La Carlota City following the recent eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.
The evacuation involved 227 personnel, comprising 187 employees and 40 field workers, with only a skeletal force remaining on site to ensure the protection of equipment.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona announced that the SRA Disaster Response Team, led by SRA Board Member David Sanson, has been activated to oversee the evacuation and ensure the safety of employees and facilities.
Azcona emphasized that while employees are safe and equipment is protected, concerns remain about the potential impact of ashfall on the nursery where various sugarcane varieties are propagated.
“We are on alert, particularly ensuring the safety of our employees. I ordered the evacuation of our research facility, with a skeleton crew left behind to secure the facility,” Azcona said.
“We have regrouped our disaster response teams, and we are closely monitoring the situation on Mount Kanlaon. We have relief supplies in place if and when needed, and we have also allocated some P4 million for other emergency supplies,” he added.
In the event of a magmatic eruption and Alert Level 4 being raised, Azcona said the temporary evacuation center for SRA workers will be at its Bacolod office.
The eruption of Kanlaon has raised significant concerns for the local sugar industry, as ashfall can increase soil acidity, potentially damaging sugarcane crops.
The SRA has previously expressed fears about the effects of volcanic ash on sugarcane yields, noting that if ash is not removed from the leaves, it can cause them to burn, leading to premature maturation and a decrease in sugar quality.
This latest development comes as Kanlaon continues to exhibit volcanic activity, posing ongoing challenges for agricultural sectors in the region.
The Department of Agriculture has reported substantial losses in the past due to similar eruptions, with significant damage to rice, corn and high-value crops./JB, WDJ