Displaced by the December 9, 2024 eruption of Kanlaon Volcano, over 6,000 evacuees in La Castellana are not just battling the loss of homes and livelihoods—they are facing a deeper struggle between drinking from spring water sources or chlorinated water.
For generations, the springs at the foot of Kanlaon have been the community’s lifeline. The spring water, untouched and pure, has played a very crucial role in their way of life.
But as ashfall from the volcano contaminated these natural sources, evacuees sheltering in 11 evacuation centers now find themselves rejecting the chlorinated water provided by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
La Castellana town mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said, “The chlorinated water just doesn’t taste the same for them.” She added, “They have spent their entire lives drinking water straight from the springs.”
Also, the town’s deep wells, its primary source of tap water, are under severe threat from the volcano’s ash emissions.
Despite an adequate supply of treated water, evacuees use it only for washing and bathing, leaving the government scrambling to provide purified water through local refilling stations.
Baffled
The reluctance to embrace chlorinated water shows the deep cultural ties that bind La Castellana’s residents to their natural environment, which makes the government baffled what to do.
Task Force Kanlaon (TFK) chief Raul Fernandez emphasized the urgency of addressing the situation.
“Swift action is necessary. We will find a solution immediately,” Fernandez said, adding that efforts are underway to procure purified water from nearby towns like Isabela, Hinigaran, and Bago City.
Understanding the evacuees’ inability to adapt to chlorinated water, Health Undersecretary Mary Ann Maestral proposed prioritizing the provision of purified water instead of imposing chlorinated water on them in La Castellana.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental’s environment chief Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya warned that ashfall contamination could compromise these wells, consequently urging frequent inspections and monitoring with assistance from the Department of Health.
Furthermore, Mangilimutan spoke of the strain of managing the evacuees for over 25 days, describing the situation as both physically and financially draining.
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, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.