NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Since December 9 alone, the Negros Island Region (NIR) has registered nearly P1 billion in agricultural losses due to Kanlaon Volcano’s eruptions.
Two months since the second Kanlaon eruption late last year, a consolidated report released by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the region on Sunday, February 9, showed that damage to crops and livestock in the five affected localities – Canlaon City in Negros Oriental and La Castellana, Murcia, and the cities of Bago and La Carlota in Negros Occidental – reached over P913 million.
Vegetables took the biggest hit with losses reaching P860.111 million, followed by rice at P49.966 million, corn at P2.028 million, and poultry and livestock at P900,100.
Of the total losses, Canlaon in Negros Oriental accounted for the largest share at P782.49 million, while the four localities in Negros Occidental reported combined losses of P130.52 million.
The DA-NIR also listed 4,060 farmers affected by the Kanlaon eruption across the region, with 2,599 in Negros Oriental and 1,461 in Negros Occidental.
The eruption, which brought ashfall and other volcanic debris, damaged a total of 2,956.74 hectares of farmland in both provinces. Of this, 1,639.25 hectares have no chance of recovery, according to the DA-NIR report.
A total of 321 livestock animals were also confirmed dead due to the eruption.
Albert Barrogo, DA-NIR officer-in-charge, said once evacuees return to their homes, they will be provided with agricultural inputs and support assistance.
At present, Canlaon in Negros Oriental has 4,406 evacuees, nearly half of whom are staying with relatives.
Negros Occidental still has 5,800 evacuees in La Castellana, La Carlota, and Bago, who remain housed in various evacuation centers.
Meanwhile, affected farmers in La Castellana, with assistance from the Municipal Agriculture Office, have begun preparing land for the Municipal Vegetable Seed Production Project (MVSPP).
The initiative aims to help farmers grow seeds for local food supply and income, supporting their recovery.
In Bago, Mayor Nicholas Yulo said officials are focusing on helping Kanlaon evacuees rebuild their homes. Some will be resettled in nipa huts purchased by the city government as temporary shelters in Barangay Napoles.
“Next to be endeavored is for the evacuees’ livelihoods, including farming assistance,” Yulo said.
Meanwhile, Task Force Kanlaon head Raul Fernandez told Rappler on Monday, February 10, that Kanlaon had been releasing 2,183 tonnes of carbon dioxide per day since Saturday, February 8. On Sunday, it also recorded 15 volcanic quakes, all tectonic in origin.
Fernandez, citing information from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said the volcano could soon produce a lava flow or lava fountaining.
He admitted that Task Force Kanlaon lacks standby service vehicles needed for the evacuation of around 100,000 residents from areas near the foot of the volcano in case of another eruption.
To address this, he said officials are coordinating with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to secure a memorandum of agreement with a bus company. The arrangement would provide at least 100 Ceres buses for evacuation efforts if Kanlaon erupts again. – Rappler.com