Canlaon City, located in Negros Oriental, has taken significant steps to improve its disaster response capabilities by introducing a new siren system. This system, recently tested, is designed to alert residents and evacuees about dangerous volcanic activity from Mt. Kanlaon, enhancing the city’s preparedness for potential eruptions.
The siren system was put to the test this week during a simulation for an Alert Level 4 evacuation. According to Edna Lhou Masicampo, the city’s information officer, the siren serves as a critical tool in guiding people to safety. Different siren durations convey specific instructions: a two-minute siren signals immediate evacuation for those within the 6-km Permanent Danger Zone, while a five-minute siren mandates evacuation for those within a 10-km radius.
Masicampo stressed the importance of the siren system in ensuring swift and effective communication during emergencies, especially as volcanic activity intensifies. However, she highlighted the necessity for close coordination with the Office of Civil Defense and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to activate the sirens.
The siren system is part of a comprehensive disaster preparedness program that includes training for over 100 newly appointed camp managers. These managers participated in a two-day intensive training on incident management and evacuation protocols, aimed at addressing the needs of 10 evacuation centers established following the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on December 9.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD 7) led the training, responding to the fatigue felt by camp managers who have been working tirelessly since the eruption. Additionally, DSWD is conducting assessments of evacuation centers in preparation for a possible Alert Level 4 declaration for Mt. Kanlaon. Teams from DSWD-7, along with Canlaon City disaster officials, have inspected shelters in Ayungon, Guihulngan City, and Vallehermoso, identifying four centers in Ayungon and eight in Guihulngan City.
Under Canlaon City’s contingency plan, neighboring towns such as La Libertad and Tayasan are designated to accommodate evacuees. DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero noted that these assessments were followed by simulation activities, which were conducted after the camp managers completed their training on camp coordination, management, and the protection of displaced persons.