Evacuating residents affected by the Kanlaon Volcano eruption proved difficult, despite the forced evacuation order implemented since last night.
In a report by RH Edniel Parrosa, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro stressed that many residents are refusing to evacuate due to their unfamiliarity with the process and reluctance to leave their belongings.
"Ang issues na hinaharap namin ngayon [ay] nagh-hesiate na lumikas ang mga tao kasi hindi sila sanay sa ganitong mga pangyayari at syempre hesitant silang iwanan ang kanilang mga ari-arian," Teodoro said in an ambush interview after a meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Of the 87,000 people potentially affected by the eruption, 54,000 are at risk of being directly affected by the ashfall.
However, as of this morning, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported that only about ten thousand people have been evacuated so far.
Evacuation efforts are focused on La Castellana in Negros Occidental and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
