The government will implement a long-term plan to ensure the safety of residents affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Monday.

President Marcos said the plan involves identifying safe evacuation sites and establishing permanent relocation areas.

In organizing the National Task Force on Kanlaon, the President said he prefers to keep the composition small, with the DND-OCD as lead.

He stressed the need for a plan to move people out of danger zones and build large evacuation centers for Kanlaon-affected residents.

“That’s the one item we have to decide [on] –the location of the evacuation centers. Once again, let’s coordinate very closely with the local governments,” he said.

“They already have some proposals. Tingnan lang natin kung talagang it’s scientifically correct in terms of the choice… And then [let’s see] how we regulate the rebuilding in the different towns.”

The President also told the agencies to continue supporting affected localities, citing the good coordination between the national and local governments.

Officials from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said that the eastern side of Kanlaon Volcano is still inflating, at least at the upper slopes, recording nine tremors in the past 24 hours.

Its explosive eruption occurred last December 9. | PND