After a brief but precautionary halt triggered by ashfall from Kanlaon Volcano, Canlaon City has formally announced the lifting of its school suspension order, with face-to-face classes across all levels and school types set to return on August 26, 2026.
The decision came through an executive order signed by the city’s chief executive, signaling that conditions had sufficiently improved to allow students and school personnel to return to their campuses safely — though with continued vigilance still being urged.
Mayor Issues Formal Executive Order
Mayor Jose Chubasco B. Cardenas formalized the lifting of the suspension through Executive Order No. 83, Series of 2026. The order explicitly authorizes the resumption of face-to-face classes and all other school activities that require the physical presence of students in both public and private educational institutions throughout the city.
According to the Canlaon City Government, the executive order takes effect on August 26 and remains valid and enforceable unless it is amended, revoked, or replaced by a subsequent order from the city administration.
Why Classes Were Suspended in the First Place
The city had placed an earlier suspension of classes beginning August 24 at 12 noon, a precautionary measure put in place in direct response to ashfall and the continuing eruptive and volcanic activity of Kanlaon Volcano. The suspension covered all schools — public and private — within Canlaon City’s jurisdiction.
Ashfall events pose immediate health risks to students and school personnel, including respiratory irritation and reduced visibility, making it unsafe for large numbers of children to travel to and remain in school facilities. The city government acted swiftly to protect the school community during that period of heightened volcanic unrest.
PHIVOLCS Monitoring Guided the Decision
The decision to lift the suspension was not made arbitrarily. The Canlaon City Government based the resumption order on the latest monitoring data and official advisories from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), which indicated that conditions had improved to a level that no longer justified maintaining a citywide class suspension.
PHIVOLCS, the national agency under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) responsible for monitoring volcanic activity across the Philippines, plays a central role in guiding local government decisions during periods of volcanic unrest. Its advisories are a primary reference for local disaster risk reduction offices and school authorities alike.
Special Rules Apply Within the Permanent Danger Zone
Importantly, Executive Order No. 83 does not apply uniformly to all schools in the area. Schools situated within Kanlaon Volcano’s six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) are subject to a separate and more cautious provision under the same order.
For these schools, the resumption or continuation of classes will not be automatic. Instead, the decision will rest with individual school heads, who are tasked with evaluating prevailing conditions, the physical safety of students and teaching personnel, and the latest advisories from DOST-PHIVOLCS, the Department of Education (DepEd), and other relevant government authorities before making a call on whether to proceed with in-person instruction.
This tiered approach reflects the recognized reality that proximity to the volcano’s crater significantly increases risk, and that a blanket resumption order cannot adequately account for the varying levels of exposure experienced by different schools across the city.
Continued Monitoring and Coordination
The Canlaon City Government emphasized that the lifting of the suspension does not mean the threat has fully passed. City officials urged all school administrators, teachers, students, parents, and guardians to remain on alert and to continue practicing safety and precautionary measures at all times.
The city’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO) is expected to maintain active coordination with DepEd and other concerned agencies in monitoring volcanic conditions on an ongoing basis. Should circumstances deteriorate — whether through renewed ashfall, increased volcanic activity, or updated hazard advisories — the LDRRMO is prepared to recommend a fresh suspension or outright cancellation of classes.
Residents and members of the school community were likewise advised by the Canlaon City Government to keep track of official updates from DOST-PHIVOLCS, the city government itself, DepEd, and other authorized agencies, rather than relying on unverified information circulating on social media.
By the Numbers
- August 24, 12 noon — date and time the original class suspension took effect
- August 26, 2026 — date classes are authorized to resume under Executive Order No. 83
- 6 kilometers — radius of Kanlaon Volcano’s Permanent Danger Zone, within which school heads retain discretion over resumption
- Executive Order No. 83, Series of 2026 — the specific issuance that lifts the suspension citywide
Why This Matters
The lifting of Canlaon City’s class suspension reflects the direct and immediate impact that volcanic activity has on education and public safety in communities located near active volcanoes like Kanlaon. The decision, grounded in advisories from PHIVOLCS, demonstrates how local government units rely on science-based monitoring to balance the continuity of education against the physical safety of students and school personnel. The special provision for schools within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone further underscores that the threat from Kanlaon Volcano has not been fully resolved, and that ongoing vigilance remains essential for affected communities.
Source: Canlaon City Government / Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)
