The Kanlaon Volcano eruption on Monday has damaged P9.9 million in crops, hurt the “vegetable basket of the Visayas” and contaminated water sources, officials said on Thursday, June 6.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the volcano’s eruption has caused P9,992,556.35 in damage to crops.
Damaged by ash fall were rice – P1,368,956.35, corn – P122,250 and high value commercial crops – P8,501,350, he said.
The governor said water in rivers and streams have also been affected by volcanic waste and sulfur in La Castellana and La Carlota City in Negros Occidental.
“The lack of drinking water is a major area of concern”, he said.
Mobile potable water stations were being set up to address the water needs of residents.
Four goats, two pigs and 275 free range chickens were experiencing respiratory problems due to the ashfall in Barangay llijan, Bago City, the Provincial Veterinary Office also informed Lacson.
There were no animal deaths, it added.
VEGETABLE BASKET
Mayor Jose Cardenas said the crops of about 1,630 vegetable farmers in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, have been affected by the ash spewed by Kanlaon.
However, he did not have a figure yet on the total cost of the damage.
Canlaon is the “vegetable basket of the Visayas”, he said.
The lahar flow in Canlaon remained within rivers that are deep and did not overflow on to roads, houses and farm lands, Cardenas said.
He said the water in barangays Masulog and Pula in Canlaon is contaminated. The city’s mobile water filtration system is being sent to those areas, he said.
Cardenas said his city is stockpiling on food in case Kanlaon continues to erupt.
Based on their assessment for now they can feed 23,000 residents for 10 days, he said.
Canlaon still has 236 evacuees, he said.
OCD MEETING
Lacson said a meeting organized by the Office of the Civil Defense in Western Visayas was held in La Carlota City on Thursday to discuss possible scenarios that could happen with further volcanic activity, and the care of evacuees.
Phivolcs representatives reported that there are less volcanic earthquakes and emissions at Kanlaon but they cannot predict how the volcano will behave, Lacson said.
“There is still a possibility for an eruption,” he said.
Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 2.
The OCD wanted assurance from the LGUs that there are no persons residing in the 4 kilometer danger zone of Kanlaon, Lacson said.
The Office of the Protected Areas Superintendent said trekking and recreational camping within the Kanlaon danger zone and all ecotourism sites in the area is strictly prohibited.*