On ‘bigger eruption of Kanlaon’: Governor reiterates call for prayer

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson reiterated Sunday his call for Negrenses to pray for divine intervention.

Lacson’s appeal was aired following the latest statement of Dr. Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS-DOST), in an interview with government station PTV on Saturday.

“The rise and decrease of sulfur dioxide of Kanlaon volcano in Negros island is a sign that it maybe gearing up for a bigger and maybe a deadly eruption,” Bacolcol said.

During his first press conference on Thursday, Lacson said that
“Negros needs a miracle to halt the imminent eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.”

“What we really need now is divine intervention, close to a miracle that Kanlaon Volcano will all of a sudden just calm down and rest”, Lacson said.

“Experts are saying it will erupt but they don’t know when it’s going to happen”, he said.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and the Office of Civil Defense have asked local government units affected by the recent Kanlaon eruption to prepare more for a worst-case scenario.

Data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development show that as of January 5, the eruption of Kanlaon has affected 12,226 families composed of 46,787 individuals from 26 barangays in Region 6 and 7.

A total of 4,103 families or 13,339 persons are currently inside 34 evacuation centers while 2,351 families or 7,458 persons are living outside the evacuation centers, the data also showed.

The DSWD also reported that it has released P69,784,895.63 in humanitarian assistance.

The agency also said it still has a total of P50,304,847.66 in standby funds and P2,186,164,915.27 cost of food and non-food items or a total of P2,236,469,762.93 in available relief resources.* (W/ EYA)