After the December 9 eruption of Mount Kanlaon, the Department of Health in the Negros Island Region (DOH-NIR) deployed over 140 healthcare workers to ensure the well-being of displaced families in evacuation centers.
DOH-NIR Director Razel Nikka Hao announced in a press briefing that the department stationed six physicians, 43 nurses, 77 medical staff, and 14 technical staff across 34 evacuation centers in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental provinces.
Medical missions from partner hospitals, including Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City, have further supported these efforts, Hao said.
Health teams conducted 3,821 consultations from December 9 to 31, addressing common ailments such as fever, acute respiratory infections, and food- and water-borne diseases, according to DOH data.
“Our health workers serve as the backbone of our response, managing thousands of cases directly in the evacuation sites,” Hao emphasized.
Healthcare workers managed most cases on-site, minimizing the need for hospital referrals, she added.
DOH-NIR also distributed essential supplies, including masks, nebulizer kits, hygiene kits, and medicines, to ensure evacuees have access to critical health resources.
As of press time, Mount Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 3, threatening thousands of residents in Central Negros Island.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded near-daily ash emissions from the crater, noting the volcano’s ongoing activity and potential for a more hazardous eruption.
Agri damages
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that volcanic unrest has caused PHP33.5 million in agricultural damage across Negros Island.
Farmers and fisherfolk have been affected by damage to 298.05 hectares of crops, with 34.54 hectares deemed irreparable and 263.51 hectares sustaining partial damage but remaining salvageable.
Meanwhile, the eruption has displaced 12,043 families (46,259 individuals) from 26 villages in Western and Central Visayas. Of these, 4,420 families (14,441 people) still seeking refuge in evacuation centers, while 2,192 families (6,977 individuals) are receiving aid outside these centers.
These centers spread across 24 areas in the cities of Bago, La Carlota, and San Carlos, along with La Castellana town in Negros Occidental, and 10 centers in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.
La Castellana town hosts the highest concentration, with 11 evacuation centers.
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.