VOLCANIC quakes recorded by the seismic monitoring network of Mount Kanlaon decreased to only nine as of Tuesday, almost a week after its moderate level of unrest was reported.
The series of Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) bulletins showed there were 10 volcanic quakes on November 20, 19 and 17, reflecting a significant decline from the 210 volcanic earthquakes recorded on November 16.
On November 15, the Philvolcs raised the alert status of Mount Kanlaon from Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2 after it recorded 279 volcanic earthquakes.
Despite the notable decline in the number of volcanic earthquakes in the past days, Alert Level 2 status prevails over the volcano, which means that the volcano is undergoing a moderate level of unrest, the Philvolcs said.
Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, head of Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division, said on Tuesday a pre-disaster risk assessment on the status of the active volcano will be held today with the concerned local government units (LGUs) and government agencies in La Carlota City.
He said that although the present situation of the volcano does not cause alarm yet, the residents and the local disaster management councils of LGUs surrounding the volcano must still be alert all the time.
During the meeting last week, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-Western Visayas observed the lack of facilities in case of evacuation.
Caelian had earlier said that LGUs seen to be affected already laid their evacuation plans, including the setting up of drop-off points and evacuation centers.
The LGUs have been instructed to submit the list of what they need to the OCD-Western Visayas and the Provincial Government.
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. (PNA with reports from Teresa D. Ellera)