NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – A standoff has unfolded between two local mayors and national disaster authorities over evacuation protocols near Kanlaon Volcano.
Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo and La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangulimutan have resisted calls from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Task Force Kanlaon to keep 2,428 evacuees from outside a six-kilometer danger zone in evacuation centers.
But the mayors argued that their decision to send residents home aligned with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) guidelines.
Negros Occidental still hosts 5,599 evacuees from Kanlaon’s restive activities, with 4,437 remaining in La Castellana, 1,112 in La Carlota, and 50 in Bago as of posting time.
Task Force Kanlaon head Raul Fernandez has warned of dire consequences, pointing to Kanlaon’s Alert Level 3 status and the possibility of an escalation to Level 4, which could expand the danger zone to a 10-kilometer radius.
He said the risk of pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) – high-speed avalanches of scorching gases, ash, and volcanic debris capable of devastating areas well beyond the current perimeter.
“We are following Phivolcs’ guidelines, which state that only those within the danger zone are at risk,” Yulo said, brushing aside OCD’s insistence on additional precautions.
Nicor-Mangulimutan shared his stance, stressing the need to balance safety with practical governance. She maintained that their decisions were based on the Phivolcs advisory, and not on unwarranted fear.
Both mayors also contended that the prolonged displacement of residents is taking a toll on their local governments, stretching limited resources and exacerbating tensions among evacuees.
They argued that blanket evacuation orders for areas outside the designated danger zone are an overreach.
The disagreement has caught the attention of Malacañang, which has called for a review of protocols and better coordination between national and local authorities. Meanwhile, scientists and disaster officials remain wary, pointing to the unpredictable nature of Kanlaon’s activity.
As pressure mounts, the defiance of Yulo and Nicor-Mangulimutan underscored a deeper conflict between local autonomy and the centralized response to natural disasters – a tug-of-war that could determine the fate of thousands living in the shadow of the volcano.
Malacanang has stepped in, with Presidential Adviser for the Visayas Terence Calatrava calling on the mayors to reconsider their stance.
Yulo, however, defended his position in a letter to Calatrava, assuring compliance with Phivolcs safety protocols and stating that the city remains vigilant and responsive to any changes in volcanic activity.
Meanwhile, La Carlota City Mayor Rex Jalando-on has taken a different approach, issuing a status quo order for the 1,112 evacuees in his city to remain in evacuation centers.
Both Yulo and Nicor-Mangulimutan cited funding constraints as a key challenge.
“Who will sustain these evacuees amid the uncertainty of Kanlaon’s activities?” they asked, urging the national government to provide more resources.
The situation remains tense, with Calatrava set to meet Yulo and other officials to address the impasse and chart a path forward amid Kanlaon’s ongoing volcanic activity.
Kanlaon Volcano has shown signs of increased activity, with swelling along its slopes raising concerns of a possible explosive eruption.
On January 11, Phivolcs confirmed the swelling, warning it could signal magma movement. The volcano has been at Alert Level 3 since its December 9, 2024 eruption, and advised those within the six-kilometer radius danger zone to evacuate. – Rappler.com