Kanlaon’s ashfall destroys almost P1 million worth of high-value crops

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology releases on April 14 a photo of the ongoing ash emission of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island that generated ash plumes as tall as 800 meters. (Phivolcs / Facebook)

BACOLOD CITY — The ashfall from the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island last April 8 has damaged close to P1 million worth of high-value commercial crops in four villlages of La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said the ashfall hit 34 hectares of farms that produce high-value crops like coffee, bananas, vegetables, and root crops.

It affected 48 farmers in Barangays Haguimit, Ara-al, Cubay, and La Granja.

Damage to these crops was pegged at more than P952,000.

La Carlota was worst hit by the ashfall following a moderately explosive eruption that occurred at the crater, which lasted for 56 minutes.

The Negros Occidental provincial government has realigned the P14 million originally intended for a permanent relocation site in La Castellana town.

The money went to fund the meals of the evacuees displaced by the continued unrest of Mt. Kanlaon.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, in an interview on Wednesday, said the proposed relocation site in La Castellana was rejected because it was near a sanitary landfill.

This enabled the local government to realign the funds.

“Once there is an approved relocation plan, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has assured that the provincial government can source other funds for it,” he noted.

Of the P50 million released by Malacañang to aid the evacuees, P31.9 million was already spent on the community kitchens as well as on materials for the Bago City evacuation site.

Only P18 million was left.

“We hope President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will provide more assistance,” Diaz said.

Ma. Antonia Bornas, chief of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, warned of a possible major eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.

The warning comes following the volcano’s ash emissions and a minor explosive eruption.

She said the ash emissions indicate that the volcano is preparing for a major eruption.

“But there is no telling when the next big event will happen. We have no blueprint for this,” Bornas said.

Phivolcs is assessing the situation day by day.

It compares Kanlaon’s movements with the previous activities of other volcanoes like Mayon and other volcanoes worldwide.

Bornas said the unrest at Mt. Kanlaon can take a long time.

Phivolcs is advising residents to stay away from the 6-kilometer expanded danger zone.

“Aside from the unrest at the volcano, there is restiveness among the evacuees and even a bit of resentment at what is happening to them,” she observed.

“But again, there is a lot of danger from this volcano, and it’s very difficult to predict an eruption,” she pointed out.