DSWD on standby amid Mt. Kanlaon unrest

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has begun preparations for possible eventualities amid the recent volcanic unrest of the Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island.

In a statement on Thursday, DSWD Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DMRG) Irene Dumlao said the DSWD is on high gear with over P147-million worth of food and non-food relief items for possible Kanlaon response operations.

The agency also has a P3-million fund on standby.

“We have a total of 37,868 family food packs (FFPs) and more than 15,000 non-food items such as family kits; sleeping kits, hygiene kits, and kitchen kits,” said Dumlao.

Meanwhile, the DSWD has also conducted inspections and coordinated with local government units for Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) and Internally Displaced Persons Protection (IDPP).

“The DSWD FO in Western Visayas also inspected the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental in preparation for the possible Kanlaon response operations as the volcano exhibits heightened unrest,” added Dumlao.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), on Tuesday, said an eruption of the Kanlaon Volcano is possible after continuous seismic activity.

“Nasa Alert Level 2 ang Kanlaon ngayon. Ibig sabihin nito puwede mag-escalate further 'yung activity. Yes, posible po na puputok ulit ito,” PHIVOLCS chief Teresito Bacolcol told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(Kanlaon is now on Alert Level 2. This means that the activity can escalate further. Yes, it is possible that it will erupt again.)

Concerned local government units have been advised to be vigilant in monitoring sudden changes and their appropriate response.

As of Thursday morning, PHIVOLCS said there were only 79 volcanic earthquakes recorded over the past 24 hours, which was a massive decrease from the 337 earthquakes recorded on Wednesday.

Alert Level 2 remains up over Mt. Kanlaon, increasing the risk of sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.

Entry into the four-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and the flying of any aircraft close to the volcano are prohibited.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News