It’s Raining Ash in La Castellana: When Mother Nature Decides to Throw a Tantrum!
BACOLOD CITY — In a scene straight out of a disaster movie, Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island is once again reminding us who’s boss. Continuous ash emissions have sent local farmers into a panic, and it looks like the agricultural damage has already hit a whopping P194 million! That’s enough to make any farmer contemplate switching to knitting… or maybe even looking into volcanic insurance.
Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan, with a name that truly rolls off the tongue (try saying it three times fast!), reported that thousands of farmers are suffering the fallout—literally! Since Kanlaon decided to erupt on June 3, their agricultural investments have gone up in smoke, along with their hopes of a decent harvest this season. Talk about adding insult to injury!
With eight out of the 13 barangays affected, these poor farmers now face a laundry list of losses including coffee, vegetables, livestock, and even fish! Who knew that volcanic eruptions could cause such a sudden drop in the local farm-to-table supply chain? And let’s not forget about the fishponds—because if you thought fresh sushi was safe, think again!
In a classic “wait, there’s more” twist, this disaster comes on the heels of the El Niño weather phenomenon, which was already causing havoc. You know it’s bad when the weather and the earth both decide to throw a curveball at you. They really need to get on the same page—like parents discussing how to deal with a rebellious teenager.
For those who are geographically challenged, La Castellana is nestled right in the central area of Negros Island, with some barangays situated at the foot of the volcano. And let’s not mince words; being that close to a volcano is one of the worst real estate decisions you could make—short of buying a condo in a shark-infested area.
Meanwhile, reports from the Provincial Veterinary Office reveal that over 3,400 livestock and chickens met their untimely demise. Who knew that volcanic explosions were the grand finale for poultry? That’s a real blow to the local egg market; at this rate, Deviled eggs might just become a luxury rather than a brunch staple!
On a brighter note (or as bright as you can get while living with a looming volcano), Mayor Nicor-Mangilimutan has announced plans to set aside a 1.7-hectare lot for relocating 10 families affected by the ash apocalypse. And thank goodness they’re going to have an evacuation center built. Because when the volcano gives you lemons, you need a safe place to squeeze them!
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development will step in to help with the construction of homes for these families. Meanwhile, the evacuation center is set to be financed by the national government. Fingers crossed that this time, it’s not built on a fault line or right next to another active volcano!
So there you have it; the combination of a volcano acting up and the weather going rogue has created one spectacular mess in La Castellana. It just goes to show that Mother Nature has a very dark sense of humor—but on the bright side, if these farmers ever make it through this, their storytelling skills will be off the charts. They’ll have tales that could put the best disaster movie scriptwriters to shame!
Let’s hope for calmer skies and less volcanic drama in the near future. Until then, stay safe and keep your umbrellas handy—preferably the kind that can withstand a bit of ash!
BACOLOD CITY — The ongoing ash emissions from Kanlaon Volcano, situated on Negros Island, have inflicted significant agricultural losses amounting to a staggering P194 million on La Castellana town, as highlighted by Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan in her statements made on Tuesday.
In her assessment, Nicor-Mangilimutan revealed that countless farmers in the area have experienced severe hardships, resulting in devastating losses to their agricultural investments ever since the volcanic eruption occurred on June 3.
She specifically noted that eight out of the town’s 13 barangays have been adversely affected by the volcanic activity.
The impacted barangays include Masulog, Cabagnaan, Biak-na-Bato, Mansalanao, Sag-ang, and the northern sections of Cabacungan, Manghanoy, and Camandag.
According to the mayor, the ashfall from the Kanlaon eruption has caused significant destruction to La Castellana’s agricultural products, including crops like coffee and vegetables, as well as livestock and fishponds. This disaster comes on the heels of the earlier impacts wrought by the El Niño weather phenomenon, which had already put stress on local farming for several months.
La Castellana, located in the central region of Negros Island, has some of its barangays situated at the base of the volcano, making them particularly vulnerable to its eruptions.
The Provincial Veterinary Office has reported heartbreaking figures, noting that over 3,400 livestock and chickens perished within the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone that surrounds Kanlaon Volcano during its phreatic explosion.
In response to this escalating crisis, Nicor-Mangilimutan announced that the local government has allocated a 1.7-hectare parcel of land that was purchased in Barangay Manghanoy. This land will serve as a relocation site for 10 affected families and will be the future location of an evacuation center.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development is set to assist the 10 families in constructing their new homes in the relocation site, while financing for the evacuation center is expected to come from the national government, she explained.
What immediate measures is the local government taking to address the water contamination issues caused by the Kanlaon Volcano eruption in La Castellana?
**Interview with Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan of La Castellana**
**Interviewer:** Good afternoon, Mayor Nicor-Mangilimutan. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the significant challenges La Castellana is facing due to the recent volcanic activity from Kanlaon.
**Mayor Nicor-Mangilimutan:** Good afternoon, and thank you for having me. It’s a tough time for our community, and I appreciate the chance to share our story.
**Interviewer:** The ash emissions have reportedly caused P194 million in agricultural damage. Can you elaborate on how this disaster has affected local farmers?
**Mayor Nicor-Mangilimutan:** Absolutely. Since the eruption on June 3, many of our farmers have struggled to cope with the extensive losses. Eight out of the 13 barangays have been directly affected. We’ve lost not just crops like coffee and vegetables, but also livestock and fish, which has drastically impacted our local food supply.
**Interviewer:** That sounds devastating. Given the scale of destruction, how are the farmers coping with such losses?
**Mayor Nicor-Mangilimutan:** It has been incredibly difficult for them. Many farmers are devastated, having watched their hard work go up in smoke—quite literally. This disaster comes on top of the ongoing El Niño weather phenomenon, making it even harder for them to recover. The situation feels like it has turned into a double whammy of crisis.
**Interviewer:** In terms of relief efforts, what support is being provided to the affected families?
**Mayor Nicor-Mangilimutan:** We are working on multiple fronts. We have set aside a 1.7-hectare lot to relocate 10 families impacted by the ash fallout. An evacuation center is being financed by the national government, and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development will help construct homes for those displaced.
**Interviewer:** That sounds promising. How can individuals or organizations assist the farmers and families affected by this disaster?
**Mayor Nicor-Mangilimutan:** Right now, raising awareness about our situation helps tremendously. Donations, whether financial or in-kind, are always welcome. We are working closely with NGOs and local organizations to ensure that aid is distributed effectively.
**Interviewer:** It’s heartening to hear about your proactive measures. As a final question, what’s your message to the people of La Castellana and beyond who are following this situation?
**Mayor Nicor-Mangilimutan:** To our residents, I want to say that we are resilient and will get through this together. To those outside our community, your support means the world to us, so thank you for keeping us in your thoughts. Let’s all hope for calmer skies and fewer natural disasters in the future!
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your time, Mayor Nicor-Mangilimutan. We wish you and the people of La Castellana strength as you navigate these challenging times.
**Mayor Nicor-Mangilimutan:** Thank you! Together, we will rise from this.
