By CESAR JOLITO III

The ongoing clearing of volcanic sediments from Ibid Creek at Barangay Biak na Bato in La Castellana town has been temporarily suspended due to persistent rains, the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) confirmed.

PDRRMO head Irene Bel Ploteña said the suspension was implemented as a safety precaution, citing that heavy rainfall causes water levels to rise, making the extraction of volcanic materials risky for workers and equipment.

According to Ploteña, teams from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have been clearing the upper portion of the creek.

However, every time it rains, volcanic materials are washed downstream from Kanlaon Volcano, accumulating again in the Tamburong section of the waterway.

“When sediments start to build up again, operations will resume to prevent clogging and ensure smooth water flow,” Ploteña explained.

She added that temporary storage sites are now nearing capacity due to the volume of volcanic materials already collected.

The provincial government is currently awaiting clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) before transporting the materials outside the protected area.

Before operations were halted, the PDRRMO ensured that sediments were pushed to the creek’s sides to deepen the channel and allow better water flow, particularly during heavy rains.

Initial reports estimate that around 3,000 cubic meters of volcanic debris have been removed so far, out of the 28,000 cubic meters deposited in Ibid Creek following the recent Kanlaon eruption.

Ploteña assured that clearing work will continue once weather conditions improve and the necessary environmental clearances are secured, emphasizing that the project remains crucial in mitigating flooding and ensuring community safety./CJ, WDJ