BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental – Anton Occeño was in La Castellana town last month when he saw the phreatic explosion of Kanlaon Volcano.
“It was scary,” the businessman now neophyte board member tells DNX as he voiced fears that major explosions that would follow could bring damage to property and lead to loss of lives.
Government data showed damage to crops in the Occidental and Oriental province has reached at least P100 billion after the June 2024 phreatic explosion.
Occeño, however, while new to the district seat that covers towns and cities usually affected by the volcanic eruption, has a novel plan, create a dam or canal of sorts that would channel the flow of lava and lessen the destruction.
The Fifth District covers the Occidental towns of La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Isabela and Binalbagan, and the city of Himamaylan that are usually affected, especially La Castellana, when a major explosion occurs
Occeño proposed the plan as part of a comprehensive response plan by Capitol.
“There would always be panic when a major explosion occurs,” Occeño said as he noted that even after decades of repeated eruptions, plans for prepatedness and eruption have yet to be specified to give local governments detailed measures.
Occeño said the canal or dam could be built like those in other countries, serving as a waterway, a walkway or tourist site when there are no eruptions.
He added this could be built with the help of national officials and government agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways.
He also said he is looking to passing a resolutuon urging Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to look into his proposal that could be studied by a technical working group.
The only country that is now building lava barriers and canals is Iceland after once dormant volcanoes became active once more after hundreds of years.
