Manila: The local government of Canlaon City in Negros Oriental on Monday welcomed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s disaster preparedness initiatives outlined in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), saying these would strengthen the city's capability to respond to emergencies.
According to Philippines News Agency, Seth Bariga, Canlaon City Public Information Officer-designate, said the President's proposed programs would improve access to government interventions and help residents prepare for disasters. "We have been facing disaster after disaster, from the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon to Super Typhoon Tino that caused massive and unprecedented flooding in the city," Bariga said.
He stated that while the national government had immediately provided relief and rehabilitation assistance following the calamities, more infrastructure and preparedness measures are needed, particularly if Alert Level 4 is declared over Mt. Kanlaon. Bariga noted that an Alert Level 4 declaration would require the evacuation of the city's entire population.
The city is building an evacuation center in Barangay Binalbagan, but what is needed is a bigger facility that can accommodate all residents. He expressed hope that the national government would establish a disaster-resilient evacuation center in Canlaon City that is capable of withstanding strong typhoons and earthquakes.
In his SONA, Marcos announced the construction of Ligtas Pinoy Centers, which are designed to serve as resilient evacuation facilities that can withstand powerful typhoons and earthquakes of up to magnitude 8.4. Bariga also welcomed the administration's shift from reactive disaster management to a more predictive approach through the use of digital technology.
He stated that reliable telecommunications and real-time weather information would greatly benefit Canlaon residents, particularly during disasters. Bariga recalled that during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Tino in November 2025, communication lines were disrupted, delaying emergency response operations. "Canlaon City was cut off from the world," he said, noting that the lack of internet and telephone signals slowed coordination with provincial and national authorities, leaving the extent of the situation unknown until much later.
Bariga thanked the Marcos administration for prioritizing disaster preparedness and expressed optimism that additional resilient infrastructure would enhance the safety and security of residents.
