The City of Bago in Negros Occidental is implementing various initiatives to prepare for the possible escalation of the status of Mt. Kanlaon, from Alert Level 3 to 4, in case of another eruption.

These include setting up the “bahay kubo” temporary relocation program for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and regulation and discouraging of night events.

About 23 affected families or 50 individuals, who are residents within the six-kilometer danger zone, have remained in evacuation sites in the city since the volcanic eruption last Dec. 9.

As of Wednesday, the setting up of at least 14 nipa huts in the city’s seven-hectare relocation site in Barangay Napoles is ongoing.

“Nipa huts are a more resilient alternative to tents,” City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head Dr. Merijene Ortizo said.

She added the structures are “specifically designed to provide privacy for the families and natural ventilation while fostering a communal living environment.”

“This is also a way to support local suppliers and promote the traditional Filipino way of living,” she added.

Representatives of the Office of Civil Defense-Regional Incident Management Team, the Department of Health, and the Bureau of Fire Protection have visited the relocation site.

Meanwhile, Mayor Nicholas Yulo has issued a directive regulating and discouraging night events amid the continuing unrest of Mt. Kanlaon ahead of the city’s 59th Charter Anniversary set for Feb. 9 to 15.

“Night events typically attract large gatherings, significantly increasing the potential for mass casualties and logistical challenges in the event of a volcanic eruption or associated hazards such as pyroclastic flow or ashfall,” the mayor said.

He added that “as a preventive and proactive measure, all night events and activities are hereby discouraged to ensure the safety and well-being of the general public.”

For regulated night events, organizers are required to submit a comprehensive contingency plan, an undertaking assuming full responsibility for the safety of all attendees, and other requirements that may be prescribed by the CDRMMO and the City Mayor’s Office.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the increased volcanic activity of Mt. Kanlaon signals the possibility of an escalation to Alert Level 4, which indicates imminent and hazardous eruptions. (PNA)