By Xander Ledesma
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has started marking the four-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the active Mt. Kanlaon volcano on Negros Island, a vital safety measure as the volcano continues to exhibit signs of unrest. This action follows Mt. Kanlaon’s Alert Level 2 status, indicating increased seismic activity since its explosive eruption on June 3, which posed ongoing risks to nearby communities.
The initial flag demarcating the PDZ was placed on October 16 in Barangay Biak na Bato, La Castellana, Negros Occidental. This first marker was installed as part of a series of precautions overseen by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)-6 and the Office of Civil Defense-Western Visayas (OCD-6) to enhance public safety around the volcano.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya and Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP) Superintendent Dennis Piñosa led the installation. According to OCD-6, more markers will be added to outline the full PDZ boundary in the coming months.
The project is a collaboration involving the DENR, OCD-6, and local governments surrounding Mt. Kanlaon, supported by the Negros Occidental provincial government. The RDRRMC-6 passed Resolution 7 on October 22, recommending that the PDZ be designated as a Strict Protection Zone (SPZ), as advised by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). This classification restricts human activities within the PDZ to scientific research and approved indigenous rituals, aligning with the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act’s objective of balancing conservation and public safety.
According to the MKNP Protected Area Management Board, about 60 households are situated within the PDZ, with the majority residing in Barangay Masulog and Barangay Biak na Bato in La Castellana. As part of the safety efforts, OCD-6 Director Raul Fernandez, who also chairs RDRRMC-6, highlighted the need for a coordinated relocation program to move residents from these high-risk zones.
This relocation plan is part of broader risk mitigation efforts intended to protect communities from potential volcanic hazards, as Mt. Kanlaon has had a history of significant eruptions, including those in 2016 and 2020.
Mt. Kanlaon, the highest peak in the Visayas, is one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes, with records of eruptions dating back centuries. Given its activity, PHIVOLCS continuously monitors Kanlaon’s seismic and geothermal indicators to alert local authorities of any changes that could signal an imminent eruption. By reinforcing these safety protocols and establishing clear danger zones, the DENR and local authorities aim to mitigate risks for communities residing near one of the country’s most closely observed volcanic regions.