ONLY 10 volcanic quakes were recorded by the seismic monitoring network of Mount Kanlaon over the weekend, but Alert Level 2 prevails over the active volcano, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) bulletin on Sunday.
With the present alert level, the volcano in Negros Island is undergoing a moderate level of unrest.
On Friday, Phivolcs said it also monitored only 10 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours.
The Philvolcs raised the alert status of Mount Kanlaon from Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2 on November 15 after it recorded 279 volcanic earthquakes in the last 24 hours.
On Thursday, 210 volcanic earthquakes were recorded.
Last Friday, La Castellana town in Negros Occidental suspended classes after Mount Kanlaon emitted sulfur fumes.
Mayor Rhumyla Mangilimutan said she ordered the suspension of classes in the six villages within the danger zones, including Sag-ang, Mansalanao, Cabagnaan, Biaknabato, Masulog, and Puso.
The odor started Thursday, but was gone Friday afternoon.
On Thursday, concerned agencies discussed with concerned local government units (LGUs) the identified gaps in the preparations for possible evacuation.
Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, head of Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division, said the LGUs seen to be affected by possible evacuation presented their evacuation plans, including the setting up of drop-off points and evacuation centers.
He added that the LGUs were instructed to submit the list of what they need to the Office of Civil Defense Region 6 and the Provincial Government within the week.
Localities covered by the four-kilometer permanent danger zone are the cities of San Carlos, Bago and La Carlota and the municipalities of Murcia, La Castellana, Moises Padilla and Salvador Benedicto.
On Wednesday, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental activated its Emergency Operations Center to conduct round-the-clock monitoring of the activities of Mount Kanlaon. (NLG)