Manila, Sept. 3 -- About 28,000 cubic meters of volcanic debris from the series of eruptions of Mt. Kanlaon in the past year are being extracted from the waterways near the foot of the volcano in La Castellana, Negros Occidental.

Following the overflow of lahar-silted creeks that caused flooding in Barangay Biak na Bato on Aug. 31, the provincial government dispatched backhoes and dump trucks for the clearing operation, particularly in the Tamburong Creek.

"We identified the areas together with the Provincial Engineer's Office and the Municipal Engineer's Office. The clearing started on Tuesday," Philip Lechoncito, park operation superintendent of Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP), said in an interview at the Provincial Capitol here on We...