8,947 Bago residents affected by ashfall-contaminated spring water

A total of 8,947 residents of Brgy. Mailum, Bago City are affected not only by ashfall from Kanlaon volcano that occured on Saturday.

Dr. Merijene Ortizo, head of the Bago City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said on Monday that the spring water from where they get water is also contaminated by ashfall.

Ortizo said that aside from Mailum, other barangays in Bago City affected by the ashfall are Brgys. Ilijan, Dulao, Ma-ao, Binubuhan, Abuanan, Antipuluan, Tabunan and Bacong.

She said she has already requested the Bago City Health Office to conduct water physicochemical analysis on the water source in Mailum.

The water in Mailum comes from an open spring and some of its sitios are located about seven kilometers near the volcano, Ortizo also said, citing Sitios Lunaoa, Hagdan and Tabidyaw as well as Purok Pilit and Pataan.

These are the areas where residents get their water supply, she said.

She said that the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Bago CDRMMO sent water tankers to ration drinking water to the affected residents.

The city government also distributed face masks to residents, she also said.

Meanwhile, Ortizo also said that the 50 native huts for affected residents located in Brgy. Napoles will be turned over by the city government this week.

A total of 24 families with 51 individuals from the 6-kilometer danger zone and currently in evacuation centers will be the priority beneficiaries of the nipa huts, she pointed out.

There will also be huts for security personnel, medical and camp management teams in the area.

VOLCANO

On the other hand, Mari-Andylene Quintia, resident volcanologist of the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory in La Carlota City, said the volcano continues to have inflation especially in its Eastern Upper Slopes since a minor eruption occurred in January.

Quintia said the volcano continues to show inflation, ash and sulfur emissions.

Data showed that as of February 17, Kanlaon recorded 32 volcanic earthquakes and sulfur emissions of 4,604 tonnes.

She also said that the rise and fall of the emissions means the volcano is showing swelling and contraction inside.

“It also shows that magma is moving inside the volcano’s storage area near it’s summit,” Quintia pointed out.

The volcano’ s activity is closely monitored by the agency’s monitoring stations in Upper Pantao and Brgy. Masulog in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental and in Brgy. Guintubdan, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, she also said.* (EYA)