La Carlota City firefighters clearing ash covered roads to prevent respiratory diseases.*La Carlota Fire Station photo
The La Carlota City government in Negros Occidental has postponed its 43rd Pasalamat Festival on April 21-27 “due to the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano and the associated risks and difficulties it poses for the La Carloteños”, Mayor Rex Jalando-on announced on Friday, April 11.
The decision was reached after thorough consultation with the city and barangay officials, department heads, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, festival organizers and other stakeholders, he said.
The decision was to postpone, not cancel, the Pasalamat Festival. The event will proceed once the alert level at Kanlaon Volcano is downgraded from three to two, he said.
They were already ready for the festival and had invited celebrities but it would not be good to be celebrating while other La Carlota residents are suffering, the mayor said.
Meanwhile, the city’s efforts will focus on disaster response and ensuring that the needs of the affected barangays are fully addressed, he said.
Ashfall from Kanlaon Volcano’s eruption on Tuesday hit 12 barangays and clearing efforts are underway to ensure safety of residents, especially from respiratory diseases.
Clearing operations are also underway at water sources as the ash fall has affected the potable water supply of 12, 000 residents in barangays Araal and San Miguel, the mayor said.
There are 327 families with 1,127 members who have remained in La Carlota City evacuation centers since Kanlaon’s Dec. 9 eruption.
Jalando-on said postponement of the Pasalamat Festival aims to safeguard public safety while allowing the community to eventually celebrate the festival under more secure conditions.*