The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Negros Island Region (NIR) is preparing contingency plans for the May 2025 polls should a massive eruption occur at Kanlaon Volcano.
There are no security problems from private armed groups and communist rebels that have been identified, the only concern in the region so far is the state of Kanlaon, Comelec NIR Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano said on Thursday, Nov. 14.
The Comelec led by Castillano and the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office headed by PCol. Rainerio de Chavez held their first Provincial Task Group meeting on Wednesday to discuss election concerns.
They discussed contingency plans should the unrest at Kanlaon that is under Alert Level 2 escalate, he said.
Castillano said election officers in towns and cities that could be affected by an eruption have been directed to update their contingency plans for the May 2025 polls in coordination with Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and police personnel.
The plans should include alternative voting areas.
Castillano said he visited Moises Padilla and La Castellana in Negros Occidental and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental to be briefed on their evacuation plans in case the alert level at Kanlaon is raised to three or four.
The elections could still be held if Kanlaon is under Alert Level 3 as it would mean partial evacuation, he said.
However, if Alert Level 4 is raised that would mean total evacuation, which could delay the elections in affected areas, Castillano said.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has reported increased sulfur dioxide and ash emissions from Kanlaon in recent weeks.*