Agri damage from Kanlaon Volcano eruption now at P104.8M — OCD

The eruption of Kanlaon Volcano has left P104.8 million worth of agricultural damage, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Thursday.

At a public briefing, OCD spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas said the affected areas are Region 6, or the Western Visayas Region, and Region 7, or the Central Visayas Region.

Majority of the agricultural damage is composed of high-value crops, which amounts to 3,890.5 metric tons in losses, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

High-value crops in the Philippines include carrots, onion, garlic, squash and bitter melon.

Other agricultural commodities affected include rice, corn, livestock and poultry.

The DA also logged 118 animal losses, which included cattle, carabao, goat, horse and swine.

An evacuation center in Barangays Panubingan and Linothangan in Negros Oriental were identified as animal relocation spots.

Posadas said OCD has distributed P11.346 million worth of aid.

He also noted that as of 9 a.m., 20 barangays were affected in Region 6 and five barangays in Region 7.

Region 6 and 7 have 8,580 affected families or 29,739 affected individuals, Posadas said.

“Meron po tayong nakabukas na evacuation centers ngayon, total in  8, sa Region 6 lahat,” Posadas said. “These evacuation centers are catering to 1,309 na mga pamilya or 4,705 na mga indibidwal.”

(We have a total of 8 evacuation centers that are open, These evacuation centers are catering to 1,309 families or 4,705 individuals.)

Kanlaon Volcano remains at Alert Level 2 or moderate level of volcanic unrest.

PHIVOLCS said that under this level, there is a probable intrusion of magma at depth, which may or may not lead to magmatic eruption. Entry within PDZ must be prohibited.

PHIVOLCS on early Thursday morning reported that the volcano is emitting plumes up to 300 meters tall and has at least 1 volcanic earthquake.

Canlaon City and La Castellana in Negros Occidental are still under a state of calamity due to the effect brought by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcani last June 3. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News