Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco B. Cardenas ordered the suspension of classes at all levels across public and private institutions on March 16, 2026, following a moderately explosive eruption of Mt. Kanlaon. The directive, formalized through Executive Order No. 35, Series of 2026, was issued upon the recommendation of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to protect students and school personnel from immediate volcanic hazards.
Volcanic Activity and PHIVOLCS Monitoring Parameters
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded the moderately explosive eruption on March 15, 2026, prompting the maintenance of Alert Level 2 over the volcano, which straddles the provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental. According to PHIVOLCS’ 24-hour monitoring report, the eruption lasted approximately one minute and was accompanied by ash emission events lasting from three to 229 minutes. Monitoring instruments also detected nine volcanic earthquakes, including two volcanic tremors, alongside sulfur dioxide flux measurements reaching 1,085 tonnes per day as of March 15, 2026.
Ground deformation data analyzed by PHIVOLCS indicated that the volcanic edifice is currently inflated, pointing to ongoing magma movement and accumulation beneath the surface. Volcanic plumes extended up to 5,000 meters above the crater, drifting southeast, west, and east, which impacted regional air quality.
Safety Restrictions and the Permanent Danger Zone
In response to the escalating unrest, entry into the four-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone surrounding Mt. Kanlaon remains strictly prohibited. The restriction guards against severe hazards including ballistic fragments, pyroclastic density currents, volcanic gases, and sudden phreatic or steam-driven eruptions. Aircraft operations near the volcano were also suspended due to ash and gas emissions posing risks to aviation safety.
Educational Continuity Measures in Canlaon City
While physical classes remain suspended under Executive Order No. 35, educational continuity is being maintained through alternative modalities. The directive instructs school administrators to implement distance learning platforms and modular instruction to prevent significant disruptions to the academic calendar for thousands of affected students from elementary to tertiary levels. The measure operates under the legal framework of Presidential Executive Order No. 66, Series of 2012, which authorizes local chief executives to suspend classes during disasters and natural calamities.
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