TF Kanlaon: LGUs have discretion to decamp evacuees

Task Force Kanlaon and the Regional Inter-Agency Coordinating Council (RIACC) said it is the discretion of the respective local government units if they will allow evacuees living outside the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone to decamp from the evacuation centers and return to their homes.

Raul Fernandez, task force head and regional director of the Office of Civil Defense in Western Visayas, said on Wednesday said that as far as they are concerned they are not recommending the move to allow the evacuees to return home.

During a meeting on Tuesday with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Mayors Alne Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan of La Castellana, Nicholas Yulo of Bago City, and Rex Jalando-on of La Carlota City, it was agreed to allow the 4,000 residents outside the 6-kilomerter PDZ to go home.

However, those residing inside the 6-km PDZ to remain in evacuation centers.

The OCD reportex that as of January 8, 2025 the eruption has affected 12,226 families and 46,787 persons currently housed in 34 evacuation centers both in Region 6 and 7.

The OCD also reported that a total of 4,028 families composed of 13,085 persons are inside the evacuation centers and 2,351families or 7,458 individuals are living outside the center.

Nicor-Mangilimutan confirmed that the return of the evacuees from Brgy. Sag-ang in La Castellana has started, while in Bago City, about 200 evacuees from Brgy. Ilijan will be allowed to go home.

During a press briefing on Wednesday at the Capitol Social Hall, Fernandez said that about P15.3 bilion is needed for the first 30 days of disaster response operations if Mt. Kanlaon erupts once again based on their projected calculations if the alert level of the volcano is raised to Alert Level 4.

Fernandez also said that if the volcano erupts the agency estimates that more than 124,000 people will be affected within a 10-kilometer radius.

He added that they have already informed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and concerned national officials of the need for additional funds and resources if there is a mass evacuation of people in areas within the danger zone.

Meanwhile, Joel Erestain, OCD-7 regional director, said he has suggested to the Canlaon City government to allow vulnerable residents like children, women and persons with disabilities to start moving to neighboring Vallehermoso town in Negros Oriental and to other areas in that province as the restiveness of Kanlaon Volcano continues.

Earlier, Canlaon City formulated OPlan EXODUS (Exit Operations During Uncertainties Strategy) that will mandate the transfer of residents to other areas if the volcano erupts again.*