Kanlaon halts JPGT Negros legs

To ensure the safety of all participants following the recent eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros, the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. (PGTI) has announced the cancellation of the Negros Occidental and Bacolod legs of the 2025 ICTSI Junior PGT Championship.

“We regret to inform you that the 2025 ICTSI Negros Occidental and Bacolod Junior PGT Championships have been cancelled due to the recent Mt. Kanlaon eruption,” the PGTI said in an official statement.

“We understand the disappointment this may cause for everyone who has been preparing for these events. However, the safety of all involved remains our top priority.”

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), Mt. Kanlaon erupted at 2:55 a.m. on Tuesday, releasing a thick gray plume that rose approximately three kilometers above the crater.

Ashfall was reported in several areas of Negros Occidental, including La Carlota: Barangay Cubay, San Miguel, Yubo and Ara-al, Bago City: Barangay Ilijan and Binubuhan, La Castellana: Barangay. Biak-na-Bato, Sag-ang and Masalanao.

Audible rumbling from the eruption was also heard in Barangay Pula, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, and parts of La Castellana, Negros Occidental.

The Negros Occidental leg, originally scheduled for 14 to 16 May, was part of the JPGT Visayas-Mindanao series. It was to be followed by the Bacolod Golf and Country Club event in Binitin, Murcia, from 19 to 21 May.

For further updates and announcements, participants and parents are advised to stay connected via the official PGTI WhatsApp Group, or contact Jhi Castillo-Estrada at +63 928 316 5678 or Shiela Salvania at +63 968 311 4101, or email: pilipinasgolftournamentsinc@gmail.com.