The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has ordered the evacuation of its La Granja Agricultural Research and Extension Center (LGAREC) in Barangay La Granja after Kanlaon Volcano’s explosive eruption on Tuesday, which resulted in ashfall affecting surrounding communities.
Barangay La Granja was among the areas directly hit by the ashfall, according to a report from the city government.
“I ordered the evacuation of our research facility in La Granja, with a skeleton crew left to secure the facility. All our vehicles are ready to deploy when requested by the local government units,” said SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona in a statement.
The LGAREC facility employs 227 personnel, consisting of 187 facility staff and 40 field workers. Only about 20 essential staff, mainly security guards, remain on-site to maintain operations and monitor conditions.
Azcona also confirmed that the agency’s Disaster Response Team, led by Board Member David Andrew Sanson, has been activated to respond to the situation.
“We are on alert, particularly ensuring the safety of our employees,” Azcona said, emphasizing that the welfare of SRA personnel remains the agency’s top priority.
Sanson added that response teams are closely monitoring developments at Mt. Kanlaon. He said the agency has prepositioned relief supplies and allocated PHP4 million for additional emergency resources should the need arise.
In a memorandum issued Tuesday, Azcona announced that the SRA Bacolod office will serve as a temporary shelter for SRA Visayas employees and contract of service workers in the event the situation worsens and nearby areas become unsafe.
“The safety and welfare of the personnel are of paramount importance. The Office has been in constant coordination with the authorities to receive updates regarding Kanlaon Volcano,” he added.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), Mt. Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 3, indicating magmatic unrest. In its bulletin Tuesday afternoon, Phivolcs warned that the explosive eruption may be followed by similar short-lived eruptions or could escalate into lava flows and lava fountaining.
Authorities continue to urge nearby communities to stay alert and follow evacuation advisories as the situation evolves.