‘We can’t just buy land from the private sector,’ he explained. ‘We need to work with what’s available, and that takes time.’
THICK ash plumes billow 800 meters above Mount Kanlaon’s restless summit, swirling west-northwest like ominous smoke signals sent from a brewing storm.
Photograph courtesy of PHIVOLCS
With the unrest of Kanlaon Volcano showing no signs of slowing down, the government is shifting gears from short-term evacuations to long-term planning.
In a radio interview, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said a National Task Force for Kanlaon has been created, focused on long-term solutions.
“We have to accept that we won’t be able to stop Kanlaon from erupting one day,” Nepomuceno said. “So the question now is, where do we move people permanently? Where do we build safe, durable evacuation centers?”
Nepomuceno stressed that residents evacuated from the permanent danger zone within 4 kilometers of the volcano should no longer return. If the volcano’s alert level rises to Level 3, areas up to 6 kilometers from the crater may also need permanent evacuation plans.
“That 4 to 6 km zone — they need permanent evacuation centers ready,” he said.
The OCD, he added, is already scouting for relocation sites that take into account access to roads, electricity, water and livelihood.
One of the biggest hurdles, according to Nepomuceno, is land availability.
“We can’t just buy land from the private sector,” he explained. “We need to work with what’s available, and that takes time.”
A law passed in the previous Congress — known as the Ligtas Pinoy Act — now requires LGUs to have at least one proper evacuation center. The DPWH is tasked to build them, while the OCD selects the location.
So far, over 8,100 individuals or 2,551 families have been evacuated and are now staying in 21 evacuation centers, Nepomuceno said. Across the region, nearly 90,000 people have been affected.
The damage to agriculture alone has topped P129 million, he added.
“Farmers are still allowed to harvest, but only during limited hours and at their own risk,” Nepomuceno noted.
Government agencies like the DSWD and DoLE are also providing aid to affected families.
Of the P20 billion in calamity funds allocated in January, about P16 billion remains. But Nepomuceno warned that this may dwindle quickly.
“From July to December, that’s when we usually burn through the budget. Last year, we ran short by November-December,” he said.
Nepomuceno said authorities are also monitoring Mount Bulusan for signs of unrest.
Meanwhile, in Eastern Visayas, repairs are needed on the San Juanico Bridge, where heavy trucks are currently restricted due to structural concerns.
“It likely needs emergency repair,” he said. “We’re looking at an estimate of P300 to P500 million. We’re studying if we can tap the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund.”
Despite all the challenges, Nepomuceno credited the private sector for helping fill the gaps in disaster response.
“They’ve been a big help,” he said. “This is really a whole-of-nation effort.”
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