TOLENTINO
Long-term plan needed for Kanlaon-affected communities — TOL
It is time for the government to consider a long-term plan for the relocation of communities within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) around Mt. Kanlaon in the Negros Island Region (NIR).
This is the position of Senate Majority Leader Francis “TOL” Tolentino regarding the continued eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, including the possibility of a strong eruption, based on monitoring by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
In an interview on the senator’s radio program, Canlaon City Mayor Jose Cardenas reported that the damage to local agriculture caused by the volcanic eruption will reach P1 billion.
Cardenas added that the quick response funds used by local government units (LGUs) to provide food and other necessities to affected residents have also been almost exhausted.
“The damage to our agriculture has reached P948 million since June last year,” the mayor said. He was referring to the series of volcanic eruptions, including on June 3 and December 9, which prompted the declaration of alert level 3 by Phivolcs.
Under alert level 3, all communities within a six-kilometer PDZ from the volcano’s summit must be permanently evacuated due to imminent danger.
“It is difficult to put a timetable on a volcanic activity, which can last for months to years. This is not like other disasters, such as typhoons, floods, and fires, which usually last for hours or days,” Tolentino explained.
The senator subsequently agreed with Cardenas’ proposal to the national government to designate a permanent relocation site in a safe area for the relocation of residents within the six-kilometer PDZ.
If it is safe again, residents can still return to their lands, which can be converted into agricultural zones, the mayor pointed out.
“The government should consider such a proposal, to reduce the heavy burden on LGUs, and to help the livelihoods of affected residents return to normal,” TOL stressed.
It will be recalled that Tolentino also had a similar program when he built housing for the relocation of 425 families in Talisay, Batangas, after the powerful eruption of Taal Volcano in 2020.
TOL has extensive experience in disaster preparedness and management as the former Tagaytay City mayor and chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
According to official reports, nearly 4,000 families consisting of 15,000 individuals have been evacuated from 15 barangays in Canlaon in Negros Oriental, and La Castellana, Bago, and La Carlota in Negros Occidental. These communities are located within the six-kilometer PDZ.
