OCD lifts Kanlaon cane harvesting suspension

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Farmers yesterday resumed harvesting matured sugarcanes within the six-kilometer extended danger zone of Kanlaon Volcano after the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) lifted its suspension order on such activities.

Donato Sermeno III, OCD-Negros Island Region director, said harvesting and farming works were ordered suspended after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued on Jan. 11 an advisory on the volcano’s continued unrest.

Sermeno said the order was lifted upon the request of the La Castellana town government to allow the resumption of human activities within the danger zone, specifically in Barangay Mansalanao.

Supervised farming activities within the danger zone will also be allowed in other areas, if their local government units request for it.

The work window given to farmers is only from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., with their activities closely monitored by the regional and local incident management teams.

“This (lifting of work suspension) aims to balance the safety of evacuees with the need to sustain their livelihoods, particularly during the harvest season,” Sermeno said.

Alert Level 3 remains hoisted over Kanlaon Volcano, as Phivolcs recorded yesterday two ash emissions and 13 volcanic quakes, including two volcanic tremors.

As of yesterday, the Department of Health (DOH) also reported that 6,162 affected residents had sought medical consultations for respiratory infections and hypertension, among other medical concerns.

The DOH said six doctors, 43 nurses, 14 technical staff and 77 other health personnel were dispatched to several affected areas around the volcano.

GSIS offers emergency loan

Meanwhile, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has allocated over P1.8 billion in emergency loans to help 72,846 active members and pensioners in Negros Occidental who were affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano in early December.

“Eligible applicants include active members who live or work in areas declared under a state of calamity,” the GSIS said in a statement.

It added that applicants must have updated premium payments within the last six months, no overdue loans for more than six months and a minimum take-home pay of P5,000 after deductions.

The GSIS said members on leave without pay or with pending administrative or criminal cases are not qualified.

“Old-age and disability pensioners residing in the affected areas can also apply if their net monthly pension remains at least 25 percent after loan deductions,” the GSIS said.

The government agency said members with no existing emergency loan and eligible pensioners can borrow up to P20,000.

“Those with an outstanding emergency loan may apply for up to P40,000, with the remaining balance deducted from the new loan,” the GSIS said.

It explained that the loan carries a six-percent annual interest rate and is payable over three years. It also includes redemption insurance, which clears the borrower’s remaining balance in case of death, provided payments are up to date.

Loan proceeds will be credited directly to the borrower’s eCard or UMID card, according to the GSIS.

Applications for the loan are open until today. — Bella Cariaso, Rhodina Villanueva, Catherine Talavera