Classes resume outside Kanlaon’s danger zone

CLOSELY WATCHED While Mt. Kanlaon on Negros Island appears calm in this photo taken at 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 6, communities at the foot of the volcano are told to remain on guard as it is still under alert level 3 (high level of volcanic unrest). —Photo courtesy of Jerick Ricaplaza

BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines — Schools in La Carlota City and La Castellana town in Negros Occidental have resumed in-person classes on Monday, except for those within the 6-kilometer danger zone of Mt. Kanlaon and those being used as evacuation centers.

Mayors Rex Jalandoon of La Carlota and Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan of La Castellana, in separate executive orders on Jan. 3, said the resumption of in-person classes was part of the ongoing efforts to navigate the challenges presented by the volcanic eruption while maintaining educational standards.

READ: Kanlaon Volcano emits more sulfur dioxide, logs 37 quakes

Jalandoon stressed the importance of providing continuity in education while safeguarding the health and safety of students and educators.

“Classes at all levels in schools, including daycare centers, in La Carlota City will resume on Monday except for those in the Kanlaon danger zone and those used as evacuation centers,” said Jalandoon.

Those in the danger zone and schools used as evacuation centers are the Miguel Mondia Elementary School, La Carlota North Elementary School, La Carlota South Elementary School II, La Carlota City College-Cubay and daycare centers in Ara-al, Guintubdan, Nailab, and Parkingan.

Some schools, such as Ara-al Elementary School, Yubo Elementary School and Yubo National High School would stay closed pending further consultations with the Department of Education, Parent-Teacher Associations, teachers associations, and barangay officials.

Flexible modes

In La Castellana, Mayor Mangilimutan lifted the suspension of classes in both public and private schools at all levels with the implementation of flexible learning modalities starting on Monday.

“Schools inside the 6-kilometer extended danger zone shall implement the modular and online learning modality,” she said.

On the other hand, schools outside the danger zone used as evacuation centers shall implement blended learning modalities, that is in-person classes with modular online learning.

Mangilimutan said schools outside the danger zone not used as evacuation centers shall resume in-person classes.

According to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), 13,266 persons remained in evacuation centers, and 7,458 others were staying outside evacuation centers in La Castellana, La Carlota City and Bago City in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental as of Jan. 5.

The total assistance provided to the evacuees by the Office of the President, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, local governments, and nongovernment organizations for the evacuees reached P159 million, the OCD said.

The Negros Occidental provincial government acquired a 10,000-liter water filtration truck equipped with a reverse osmosis water system to provide potable water to communities during disasters, especially in evacuation camps, said Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz.

“The wastewater generated by the system can be repurposed for cleaning and laundry, maximizing its utility during emergencies,” he said.

Stay on guard

Mt. Kanlaon erupted last Dec. 9, 2024, the second since June 3 of the same year.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recently asked local governments near Mt. Kanlaon to prepare for a worst-case scenario should the volcano erupt again.

Mariton Antonia Bornas, chief of the Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, said the slow progression of the volcanic unrest suggests that the community could face days to months of uncertainty before any explosive or effusive eruptions occur.

The volcano was currently under alert level 3 or under a high level of volcanic unrest.