Manila: The Regional Task Force Kanlaon has reiterated the ban on pilgrimage or trekking to Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island and directed concerned local government units (LGUs) to place all responders on high alert during the observance of the Holy Week. 'Prohibition on any form of pilgrimage or trekking, especially entry into the six-kilometer extended danger zone is hereby reiterated,' Office of Civil Defense-Western Visayas Regional Director Raul Fernandez said in a statement.
According to Philippine News Agency, Fernandez, who also chairs Task Force (TF) Kanlaon, ordered the strict monitoring and restriction of Holy Week activities at the volcano in a memorandum addressed to disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) council chairpersons and other stakeholders. All local DRRM officers of concerned LGUs are directed to activate their incident management teams and place all responders on high alert to ensure preparedness and rapid response capability.
Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3 (magmatic unrest) following another explosive eruption on April 8, which means it 'may be followed by similar short-lived explosive eruptions in the short term or even progress to lava eruptions that generate lava flows and lava fountaining activity', according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. In Negros Occidental, the Provincial DRRM Council and Emergency Operations Center will go on blue alert from 8 a.m. Wednesday until 8 a.m. Easter Monday (April 21).
Blue status signifies heightened monitoring, increased preparedness, and enhanced coordination to actively track potential issues and respond to ongoing emergencies. It also involves intensified communication and collaboration among concerned agencies, LGUs, and emergency response teams, who are on standby and prepared to act as necessary. Negros Occidental has the most LGUs affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon. These include the cities of Bago, La Carlota, and San Carlos, as well as La Castellana town, which all host several active evacuation centers since the explosive eruption on Dec. 9, 2024.
