Ada-spawned rain sparks fears for Kanlaon evacuees in Negros Occidental shelters

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Heavy rain brought by Tropical Storm Ada (Nokaen) has revived fears for nearly 2,000 families still living in evacuation centers, some for more than a year, in La Castellana, Negros Occidental.

Many of the evacuees have already spent two Christmases in temporary shelters.

Records from the Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) show that La Castellana is still providing refuge to nearly 2,000 displaced families: 64 who fled the Kanlaon Volcano eruption on June 3, 2024, and around 1,900 who were displaced during and after Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) in November 2025.

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The Kanlaon evacuees cannot return home because their houses lie within the volcano’s four-kilometer permanent danger zone. The Tino evacuees, whose homes were washed out by flash floods, remain in schools and other temporary shelters.

OCD-NIR Director Donato Sermeno III expressed concern for the evacuees amid the recent downpours, noting the storm has reignited fears of another disaster among families who have been living in evacuation centers for some time.

Although Negros Occidental is not among the areas directly hit by Ada, Sermeno said prolonged strong winds remain a concern.

He said the possibility of lahar flows or flash floods is also a threat for residents living near Kanlaon Volcano.

Kanlaon has shown notable activity in the past two days, with a series of volcanic tectonic earthquakes accompanied by ash emissions. On Thursday, January 15, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) La Carlota City Observatory Station recorded 46 volcanic tectonic earthquakes (VTEs), down from 78 on Wednesday, January 14.

Phivolcs has placed Kanlaon Volcano back at Alert Level 2 and recommended heightened vigilance in pre-determined hazard zones.

Heavy rainfall can trigger post-eruption lahars by eroding loose material from pyroclastic density current deposits and ashfall, or non-eruption lahars from landslide-exposed areas weakened by Typhoon Tino.

Communities along river and creek channels in Bago City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, as well as Canlaon City in Negros Oriental, may be affected by lahars, sediment-laden flows, and related flooding.

With the ongoing volcanic activity, Sermeno warned, “We cannot be complacent again. It’s better to be prepared than to be sorry later.”

Remuel Lajo, the town’s information officer, said authorities are in a “wait and see” stance, but the town’s Incident Management Team (IMT) is ready for any emergency.

La Castellana Vice Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan expressed empathy for evacuees. Aside from the lack of funds to sustain their needs, she said she was concerned about how they could return to normalcy.

The town government, she said, does not have the capacity to provide permanent relocation sites with livelihood opportunities, leaving evacuees dependent on provincial and national government support.

The provincial government has purchased an 8.5-hectare lot in Barangay Talaptap for permanent relocation, but development and modular housing installation are still pending, Sermeno said.

Officials from the Departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and OCD have conducted ocular inspections and will perform a post-disaster needs analysis before finalizing the transfer. – Rappler.com