By CESAR JOLITO III

The Office of Civil Defense in the Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) has recommended the relocation of at least nine households situated along Tamburong Creek at Barangay Biak na Bato in Negros Occidental’s La Castellana town following the continuous accumulation of volcanic sediments from Kanlaon Volcano.

OCD-NIR Director Donato Sermeno III said debris flow from Kanlaon has blocked portions of the creek, forcing water to divert toward residential areas.

The surge of water and sediments has already entered homes, raising safety concerns for residents.

“These families are frequently subjected to preemptive evacuation whenever heavy rains occur. We have already spoken with them, and they have expressed readiness to be relocated,” Sermeno said.

Authorities reported that one house has already been abandoned after being completely filled with debris, while another is at risk of being washed away due to soil erosion along the creek.

Sermeno also warned that more households may eventually need relocation as the erosion continues and the soil beneath homes becomes unstable.

The OCD stressed that proactive relocation measures are critical to ensuring the safety of residents, especially as La Castellana remains one of the most affected towns by Kanlaon’s ongoing volcanic activity.

On Friday, September 26, heavy rains washed down lahar sediments that caused the creek to overflow along the highway of Sitio Tamburong.

Earlier, authorities directed the preemptive evacuation of residents living near the creek whenever heavy rains occur, as volcanic sediments continue to block the waterway.

Despite previous clearing efforts, some sections of the creek have once again been obstructed by continuous rains, causing water to overflow and inundate nearby homes./CJ, WDJ