By CESAR JOLITO III
In a proactive measure to strengthen disaster preparedness, a full-scale simulation exercise (simex) was conducted on Saturday, July 5, to test emergency response systems in the event of an eruption at Kanlaon Volcano under Alert Level 4.
The large-scale drill, held at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City, simulated the evacuation, relief and medical response for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in case of a high-alert volcanic eruption.
The exercise was aimed at evaluating the coordination and operational readiness of various national and local agencies in a high-risk scenario.
The Office of Civil Defense in the Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) served as the primary evaluator, with its personnel deployed across various simulation points in local government units surrounding Kanlaon to monitor operations in real time.
Participating agencies in the simex included the Bureau of Fire Protection, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, Philippine Coast Guard, 303rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Red Cross, and several provincial government offices.
As part of the drill, IDPs were “evacuated” from simulated danger zones and transported to Panaad Park, where they underwent screening, registration and medical assessment.
Welfare goods were also distributed to the evacuees, and medical teams provided check-ups, prescriptions and vitamin supplements.
Some OCD-NIR staff remained at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Emergency Operations Center to monitor volcano activity and coordinate response logistics.
PDRRMO lauded the smooth execution of the drill, noting the strong inter-agency coordination and preparedness shown by all participants.
“This exercise is not just a requirement — it’s an essential rehearsal to ensure that, in the event of a real eruption, we are ready to save lives,” the PDRRMO said.
Kanlaon Volcano, one of the most active in the country, has been closely monitored by authorities due to its history of sudden and explosive activity.
The simex reinforces Negros Occidental’s commitment to public safety, disaster risk reduction and building resilient communities./CJ, WDJ