A calm Kanlaon Volcano as seen from La Castellana in Negros Occidental.*
The Commission on Elections and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) are all set for Election Day in areas affected by Kanlaon Volcano’s unrest in the Negros Island Region (NIR) on Monday, May 12.
Close to 5,000 evacuees will be ferried in government vehicles to their alternative polling centers in La Castellana, Bago City and La Carlota City, OCD NIR Regional Director Donato Sermeno said on Friday.
Sermeno said he is urging the evacuees to cooperate and follow the instructions for peaceful and orderly polls.
Ther OCD remains on Red Alert with Kanlaon Volcano still under Alert Level 3.
Mari-Andylene Quintia, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) resident volcanologist at the Mt. Kanlaon Observatory in La Carlota City, said the volcano had one ash emission that reached 300 meters in height and lasted five minutes Thursday afternoon.
The volcano appeared to have stabilized in the past week and hopefully will remain calm on Election Day, she said.
She said the volcano has had low sulfur dioxide emissions, which could mean a drop in amount or clogged conduits in the volcano.
The Comelec in Negros Occidental is 100 percent ready for the May polls, NIR Assistant Elections Regional Director Jossil Macute said on Friday.
“The Automated Counting Machines, ballots and security are ready, we are just waiting for Election Day to come,” he said.*