The first flag has been erected by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to mark the four-kilometer perimeter of Mt. Kanlaon’s permanent danger zone (PDZ) on Negros Island.
The Office of Civil Defense-Western Visayas (OCD-6) made the announcement since the active volcano is still under Alert Level 2, which indicates growing unrest in the volcano, following its June 3 explosive eruption.
Strict Protection Zone
Resolution 7 was passed by the RDRRMC-6 on October 22, which recommended that the four-kilometer radius PDZ established by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology be designated as a strict protection zone (SPZ).
An area designated as an SPZ is one that is off-limits to all human activity, with the exception of scientific research and/or ceremonial or religious uses by indigenous peoples or cultural communities.
The program is part of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)-6 Incident Management Team's efforts to "enhance community safety in the event of volcanic alert escalation at Mt. Kanlaon," said the OCD-6.
In the upcoming months, additional flags will be erected along the demarcation sites, according to the OCD-6.
Affirming community safety
The MKNP Protected Area Management Board's data indicated that roughly 60 houses are located within the PDZ.
According to the local municipal government, it serves 15 families, 10 of whom are in Barangay Masulog and 5 of them are in Barangay Biak na Bato.
The OCD-6, the province government of Negros Occidental, and local government entities near Mount Kanlaon have worked together to finance the project's expenses.
