Following the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon on December 9, 2024, the Environmental Management Bureau in Western Visayas (EMB-6) has reassured the public that air quality in the vicinity remains safe. During a media forum on December 16, Cliff Jefferson Escobar from EMB-6 shared that air quality assessments from five monitoring stations around the volcano indicate levels ranging from fair to good as of December 14.
The monitoring stations are strategically placed in Barangays Ara-al and Robles, as well as at temporary evacuation centers in La Castellana Elementary School, Barangay Balingasag Sports Complex in Bago City, and Barangay Cubay in La Carlota. Escobar noted that while the air quality is generally safe, individuals with health sensitivities should take minor precautions.
The highest air quality was observed at the stations in Barangay Robles and the La Carlota evacuation center, with other locations reporting fair conditions. To further monitor the situation, real-time air quality sensors are being set up at the La Carlota evacuation center to track particulate matter and various gases hourly.
The EMB central office has committed PHP618,450 to support a year-long air quality monitoring program in the Mt. Kanlaon region. In related news, Civil Defense Regional Director Raul Fernandez reported that over 4,900 families, totaling more than 16,000 individuals from Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, are currently sheltered in evacuation centers, achieving a 93.73 percent evacuation rate within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone. Evacuation efforts continue in Canlaon City, particularly for indigenous communities, with over 500 individuals already relocated.