In response to the recent eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, has taken decisive action to ensure the safety of residents. The mayor has suspended all government work and classes, and has also imposed a curfew and a liquor ban to maintain order and support evacuation efforts. These measures were announced via the city’s official Facebook page, urging private businesses to adapt their operations to the current situation.
The curfew, effective from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., aims to enhance public safety, while the liquor ban is intended to minimize disruptions at evacuation centers and during response operations. Mayor Cardenas has mobilized city resources, including transport vehicles, to facilitate the pre-emptive evacuation of residents near the volcano. So far, eight families from Barangay Masulog have been relocated to the Macario Española Memorial School, where relief goods are being distributed.
As the situation evolves, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) potentially raising the alert level from 3 to 4, more families are being evacuated. The private sector has stepped up, providing additional vehicles to aid the local government’s efforts. Mayor Cardenas expressed confidence in the community’s resilience and cooperation, emphasizing that the safety of Canlaon’s residents is the top priority.
The public has been advised to remain indoors, steer clear of the Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and other high-risk areas, use face masks during ashfall, and comply with evacuation orders.