Scientist group urges ‘sustainable solutions’ to Kanlaon Volcano unrest

BACOLOD, Negros — A local chapter of scientist group AGHAM urged the Negros Island government and concerned local government units (LGUs) to provide sustainable solutions to the continuing unrest, intermittent eruption, and ash emission of Kanlaon Volcano.

AGHAM Negros secretary general and engineer Mike Jegira told Manila Standard that the responses of the provincial governments and the concerned LGUs to date are “mostly reactive and palliative.”

According to him, these usually revolve around ‘ayuda’ (aid) type of assistance, food and water rationing, clean-up operations on roads and river canals covered by lava and ashes, and keeping temporary relocation sites for the evacuees to stay while Alert Level 3 remains hoisted in the six-kilometer perimeter danger zone.

“While we appreciate these efforts as positive and encouraging, including the technical intervention of the Regional Task Force Kanlaon and the Regional Office of Civil Defense, we see most of this as not enough to prepare the people and their communities, the local government units for the worst-case scenarios, like the possibility of ala ‘Pinatubo’-type of explosive eruption, or worse than such,” Jegira said.

Citing its experience working with communities, AGHAM urged the regional government and
concerned LGUs “to give more efforts and resources to define a comprehensive rescue, rehab, and development plan, consisting of short, medium, and long-term, including the creation of an inter-LGU coordinating council around the danger zone.

The group added that these should be done through mass consultations.

“For now, we are preparing some of our members to conduct ground-level assessments, get samples, including geologic behaviors of Mt. Kanlaon, production situation, and local cultures, to establish a data-based, science-driven analysis to come up with more informed decisions, resolutions, and plans for strategic work,” Jegira said.

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