AT LEAST 21 barangays in Bacolod City were affected by ash particles from the explosion of the Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) head, said Kanlaon Volcano erupted again at 2:55 a.m. on Tuesday. In the afternoon, Bacolod City experienced heavy rainfall, and ash particles were seen in some barangays in the city.
These are Barangays 6, 9, 12, 17, 21, 29, 32, 33, 35, Alijis, Estefania, Cabug, Granada, Handumanan, Mansilingan, Singcang-Airport, Taculing, Tangub, Vista Alegre, and Villamonte.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) earlier said a moderately explosive eruption occurred at the summit crater of Kanlaon Volcano at 2:55 a.m. and lasted five minutes.
The eruption generated a grayish voluminous plume that rose approximately 4.5 kilometers above the vent before drifting southwest.
Pornan said residents in the affected areas had already been advised to take precautions, such as limiting outdoor exposure, using face masks or damp cloths to cover their nose and mouth, keeping windows and doors closed, and protecting water sources.
Tuesday’s explosion was the fourth eruption of the volcano. The first was recorded in June 2024, December 2024, and followed by another in April 2025.
Moreover, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR)
is also initiating a shift from election security operations to disaster response mode in all areas directly affected by the volcanic activity.
Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR regional director, in a statement, said their personnel were already directed to coordinate with their respective Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (LDRRMCs) to support evacuation, relief, and security operations as necessary.
“While we continue to ensure the safe conclusion of the 2025 National and Local Elections in the rest of the region, our priority now includes protecting lives and supporting affected communities in this time of emergency,” Ibay said.
He added they are ready to augment resources and personnel in affected areas to maintain order, provide humanitarian support, and assist in disaster response efforts.
Ibay noted that their specialized units, including search and rescue teams and medical responders, are on standby for rapid deployment.
“We urge the public to remain calm, follow advisories from local authorities and the Phivolcs, and cooperate with evacuation and safety procedures where required. Let us continue to uphold the spirit of unity and service as we face this natural calamity together,” Ibay said. (MAP)