NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – With Kanlaon Volcano growing more restless, officials are bracing for a possible large-scale evacuation – more than 100,000 people could be forced to leave their homes.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Task Force Kanlaon, under mounting pressure to cushion the impact of a more powerful eruption, have turned to a popular voice to drive the message home: actor Dingdong Dantes. The actor’s involvement is part of a broader effort to cut through public hesitation and ensure residents heed the warnings before it’s too late.
Dantes, who has been serving as OCD ambassador, recorded a 45-second public service announcement instructing people on what to do in case the volcano erupts again. The actor is also a Philippine Navy reservist.
“Listen to Dingdong Dantes, please,” Task Force Kanlaon head Raul Fernandez urged, stressing that even those outside the six-kilometer permanent danger zone should be ready to evacuate.
The OCD and Task Force Kanlaon have been hyping the actor’s message, packaged into the acronym “MMG,” which calls on residents to listen to authorities (Makinig sa payo ng mga awtoridad), evacuate calmly (Makinahong lumikas), and bring an emergency bag (Go with a bag) containing essentials like food, water, and face masks.
“It’s helpful!” Fernandez said, adding that Dantes’ influence makes him an effective messenger for disaster preparedness.
The urgency of the messaging has been emphasized by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), which reported on Monday, February 10, that Kanlaon’s eastern flank remains swollen. Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol warned that magma is now less than five kilometers from the crater, signaling an impending eruption.
As authorities race against time to prepare for a worst-case scenario, Fernandez said they were stepping up an information and awareness campaign.
“His (Dantes) current role is special and vital as we really need to guide Negrenses leading to a zero casualty at the height of evacuation in case Kanlaon unleashes its fury again,” Fernandez said.
With a volatile volcano, strained resources, and thousands at risk, government officials and responders are banking on both science and star power to ensure that Negrenses heed the call to safety.
“I’ve always asked for divine intervention, but if that is not possible, then we will just have to be ready,” said Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Tuesday, February 11.
While officials work to reinforce safety measures, local governments are facing mounting financial challenges. Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas said the city government’s first-quarter budget for 2025 has been exhausted.
“Spending an average of P500,000 per day for lunch and dinner of our more than 3,000 evacuees right now is no joke,” he told Rappler, calling for additional aid from donors.
Aside from food assistance, the city government is seeking donations for roofing materials for damaged homes and farm supplies for affected farmers.
Canlaon City alone has suffered P782 million in agricultural losses since December 9, 2024.
The Department of Agriculture in the Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) reported that high-value crops took the hardest hit, with losses amounting to P735 million, followed by rice at P45.7 million and corn at P1.5 million. The crisis has affected at least 2,599 farmers.
Albert Barrogo, officer-in-charge of DA-NIR, said they were committed to assisting farmers in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental. DA’s planned support includes seeds, fertilizers, livestock, alternative livelihood programs, and infrastructure projects such as trading posts and farm-to-market roads to aid recovery. – Rappler.com