The newly designated Office of Civil Defense – Negros Island Region director has also been named chairman of Task Group Kanlaon created to closely monitor the restive volcano and ensure that disaster response measures are in place.
Donato Sermeno III, who was appointed OCD-NIR regional direct, will recruit his staff from the OCD Western and Central Visayas offices.
The Task Group Kanlaon vice chairmen are the OCD Western and Central Visayas regional directors.
OCD Western Visayas Regional Director Raul Fernandez said they will support Sermeno until he completes his manpower compliment and sets up his office at the Negros First CyberCentre in Bacolod.
Kanlaon had 19 volcanic earthquakes and emitted 3,579 tons of sulfur dioxide from 12 a.m. Monday to 12 a.m. Tuesday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported.
Fernandez said for now there is nothing to be alarmed about.
They are looking at the situation on the ground following reports of Kanlaon Volcano’s ash emissions, he said.
“We are here to assess the situation” and have visited La Carlota City, San Carlos City and La Castellana in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental, he said.
They have not received reports of health related issues caused by the ash fall, he said.
However, they are consolidating reports of ash fall damage to crops in Canlaon City, Fernandez said.
The Murcia Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said ashfall was felt in Barangay Minoyan on Tuesday.
“Residents may use face masks now. Ashfall has been reported in your area due to Kanlaon volcano activity,” the MDRRMO said in an advisory.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development will assist La Castellana in crafting a relocation plan for its residents who had been living in Kanlaon Volcano’s 4-kilometer permanent danger zone, Fernandez said.
Sermeno also said they are identifying possible interventions in LGUs affected by Kanlaon’s volcanic activities.
Sermeno, who is from Antique, was a municipal administrator of Taytay, Palawan, and had retired from government service.
He, however, was recruited to head the OCD NIR and took his oath of office on Oct. 17.*