Local authorities in La Castellana and Bago City, Negros Occidental, will allow more than 4,000 evacuees from areas outside the 6-kilometer danger zone around Mount Kanlaon to return to their homes on Wednesday, January 8, as part of a coordinated decamping plan.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said that the decision followed a meeting on January 7 between Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and the mayors of La Castellana, Bago, and La Carlota at the Capitol in Bacolod City.
Officials agreed that evacuees from outside the expanded danger zone could return, while those within the 6-kilometer radius around the volcano must remain in evacuation centers for the time being.
Authorities evacuated over 8,700 residents from La Castellana, Bago City, and La Carlota after Mount Kanlaon erupted on December 9.
As officials begin the decamping process, approximately 3,900 evacuees from high-risk zones and remote areas, where evacuation proved difficult, will continue to stay in shelters due to safety concerns.
In La Castellana, officials plan to allow around 4,000 of the 6,734 evacuees to return home. Mayor Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan emphasized that the final decision will rest on the ongoing safety evaluation conducted by the La Castellana Incident Management Team to ensure that only those in safe areas can return.
Ready for the possibilities
To prepare for possible future eruptions, local authorities are implementing contingency plans. Should another eruption occur, officials will relocate evacuees from La Castellana to a temporary tent city in Himamaylan.
Furthermore, the local government has identified a 4-hectare property in Barangay Manghanoy for the permanent relocation of 36 families from the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone, an area they will no longer be allowed to return to.
Mangilimutan also revealed plans to relocate residents from remote areas beyond the 4-kilometer zone, where evacuation is particularly challenging.
The provincial government has pledged to provide building materials to help these families rebuild their homes at the new relocation site.
In addition to La Castellana’s efforts, both La Carlota and Bago City are finalizing their own permanent relocation plans for displaced residents, which they will finance with local resources.
Volcano’s status
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has recorded 14 volcanic earthquakes and one tremor from Mount Kanlaon in Negros Island, based on data released on January 8.
PHIVOLCS reported that the volcanic tremors lasted up to 29 minutes, and the volcano also emitted ash during this period. In addition, the monitoring station measured 2,924 tons of sulfur dioxide released from Mount Kanlaon within 24 hours.
PHIVOLCS has maintained Alert Level 3 for the volcano and continues to enforce a strict no-entry policy within the 6-kilometer danger zone surrounding it.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.