The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Western Visayas held a Special Full Council Meeting in Iloilo City to address issues on safety and relocation of residents living within the permanent danger zone (PDZ) of Mount Kanlaon.

The meeting on October 22, 2024, presided over by Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6 Director and RDRRMC 6 Chairperson Raul Fernandez, focused on “two significant resolutions aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness around the active volcano.”

OCD 6 said that the first resolution proposed recommending to the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) the declaration of Mount Kanlaon’s 4-kilometer PDZ as a strict protection zone.

“This designation seeks to limit human activities within the area due to the unpredictable nature of the volcano and the recent and onging volcanic activities,” OCD 6 said in a post.

The second resolution discussed the formation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) to plan the relocation of families currently living within the 4-kilometer PDZ.

Fernandez emphasized that while the relocation presents logistical challenges, it is also a “pressing humanitarian concern, requiring a comprehensive and coordinated approach.”

Alert Level 2 or increasing unrest prevails over Mount Kanlaon, a PHIVOLCS advisory on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 stated.