BACOLOD CITY – Sugar Regulatory Administration Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona ordered the evacuation of 227 personnel from their research facility in La Granja, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, due to ashfall from the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Tuesday, April 8.

ASH from Kanlaon Volcano is seen at the driveway of the Sugar Regulatory Administration research facility in La Granja, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday morning, April 8. (Photo via SRA)

Azcona advised them to go home except for 20 who were mostly guards securing the facility.

“The facility was closed but the equipment is well-protected,” Azcona said.

He, however, expressed concern that ashfall might damage the open nursery where they are propagating sugarcane varieties for distribution to farmers.

“As in the past, the ash fall is acidic and can damage the crops, last time the damage was not extensive because it rained afterwards, but now, it’s so dry,” he added.

Azcona said that the SRA Disaster Response Team headed by SRA Board Member David Sanson was activated and all their vehicles are ready to deploy when requested by local government units (LGUs). 

“We are on alert, particularly ensuring the safety of our employees,” Azcona said.

He said that they have regrouped their disaster response teams and are closely monitoring the situation.

Azcona said that in the event of a magmatic eruption and the alert level is raised to four, a temporary evacuation center for SRA workers will be its office in this city.

Sanson said that they have relief supplies and allocated some P4 million for other emergency supplies.