La castellana: The incident management team (IMT) of La Castellana in Negros Occidental has raised the urgent need for dredging operations in heavily silted creeks resulting from the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano. These include the Bagacay Creek and Tamburong Creek, located in Barangay Biak na Bato. Village chief Joselito Martinez Jr. said in an interview on Tuesday they are concerned that residents will be exposed to danger due to lahar overflow during heavy rains.

According to Philippines News Agency, the barangay council and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office have both passed a resolution asking for a special permit to conduct dredging. In a statement on Monday, the IMT noted that the creeks, with depths of around six meters, have become heavily silted over a short period of time, posing a serious danger of lahar overflow during heavy rains to residents living between the two waterways.

The statement further said that the La Castellana IMT and Barangay Biak na Bato residents are making an urgent appeal to the Office of Civil Defense, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) to act swiftly on this matter. According to the La Castellana IMT, the PAMB en banc, chaired by DENR-Negros Island Region OIC Regional Executive Director Charlie Fabre, resolved to request approval from the DENR Secretary to allow dredging of the creeks without hauling, meaning the materials removed will not be utilized or transported.

The IMT added that before final approval of the request, PAMB passed Resolution No. 17, directing the provincial government, Department of Public Works and Highways, and other concerned agencies to prepare a long-term dredging plan within the jurisdiction of the Mount Kanlaon Natural Park. Resolution No. 18 explicitly prohibits the local government unit and the barangay from undertaking any dredging or removal activities in the silted areas without proper approval, the La Castellana IMT said.

Fabre emphasized that dredging must be carried out in compliance with established procedures, adding that any deviation or unauthorized activity could result in complaints and sanctions, citing the Bohol and Cebu cases as precedents where improper dredging led to significant consequences.