The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said it was prepared to lead a national task force that would address the immediate and long-term needs of communities affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island.

In a statement Saturday, Feb. 22, OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said the agency would comply with the directive of President Marcos regarding the creation of a national task force for Kanlaon response, as he reaffirmed the OCD’s commitment to the safety and well-being of those affected by the rumblings of the volcano.

Marcos made the order during a situation briefing in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental last Friday.

“The OCD has been closely monitoring the situation since the onset of the Kanlaon eruption and is ready to mobilize resources to ensure that all affected residents receive the support they need,” Nepomuceno said.

Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3, which means that there is a high level of volcanic unrest. It first registered an explosive eruption on Dec. 9 last year, producing a voluminous plume that rapidly rose to 4,000 meters above the vent as pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) descended the slopes on the general southeastern edifice.

In the past 24 hours, the Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Kanlaon Volcano spewed ashes once which lasted for 12 minutes. A total of 33 earthquakes were also monitored in Negros Island due to the activities of the volcano.

Based on the latest situational report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), there were a total of 2,660 families composed of 8,509 individuals that were staying in 23 temporary shelters across Western Visayas (Region 6) and Central Visayas (Region 7).

Nepomuceno raised the possibility that 90,000 more individuals would be evacuated if Kanlaon’s alert level is further raised.

He, however, assured the evacuees that there are sufficient relief supplies from the government to sustain their daily needs.

“We are dedicated to not only providing immediate assistance but also ensuring that those affected can return to a normal life as quickly as possible. Our efforts will focus on building permanent evacuation centers outside the six-kilometer danger zone, as directed by the President,” he said.

The government has already provided P199 million worth of assistance to the affected communities across 28 cities and municipalities in Negros Island.