FLOOD RESCUE.Personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Cauayan, Negros Occidental were among those who rescued residents from their flooded homes due to torrential rains brought by Typhoon Karding on Sunday (Sept. 25, 2022). At least 13 families have been evacuated while most of the cities and municipalities in the province have suspended classes due to inclement weather.(Photo courtesy of BFP-Region 6 Cauayan Fire Station) BACOLOD CITY -Several families have been evacuated since Sunday while classes were suspended in majority of local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental on Monday following torrential rains brought by Typhoon Karding. Latest report showed that some 13 families in Cauayan town in the south have temporarily left their homes due to flooding. Based on the directive of Governor Eugenio Lacson, all disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) centers in Negros Occidental have gone on red alert status for "close monitoring, consolidation of reports, and coo
BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN The provincial government of Negros Occidental wants a unified disaster response protocol for adoption during emergency and disaster
A view of Mt. Kanlaon from La Castellana, Negros Occidental.(PNA Bacolod file photo) BACOLOD CITY - The Negros Occidental Command Center is closely monitoring the activity of Mt. Kanlaon after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the possibility of phreatic eruptions on Monday. Zeaphard Caelian, head of the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division, said the active volcano's seismicity has decreased to only 17 volcanic quakes as of 8 a.m. on Tuesday. A day earlier, some 21 volcanic quakes were recorded, while from 5 a.m. on June 30 to 2 p.m. on July 3, at least 41 volcanic tremors were monitored caused by movements or eruptions of magma. "Mt. Kanlaon is still at Alert Level 1 or low-level unrest. Although there is a possibility of a phreatic eruption because of the hydrothermal activity, with the presence of water and magma," Caelian added. However, the volcano's sulfur dioxide gas emission has not increased, remaining at 151