MANILA — The Sugar Regulatory Administration said on Tuesday it was assessing the extent of damage the Kanlaon eruption brought to sugarcane plantations in Negros Island.

Negros Island, where Kanlaon Volcano is located, is home to the largest sugarcane farms in the country.

In an interview with the media, SRA administrator Paul Azcona said the agency had to evacuate their research center immediately after the eruption.

"Last night, nag-evacuate muna yung research center natin kasi we are at the foothill of Canlaon. So, nag-evacuate sila kagabi," he said.

(Last night, our research center had to evacuate because we are at the foothills of Canlaon.)

Negros Occidental ready to declare state of calamity due to Kanlaon eruption

Azcona said he was a bit worried as the eruption could impact sugar production in the country.

"Last night, yung initial reports na naririnig ko, it hit La Carlota, and La Carlota is one of our biggest areas for sugarcane. Yun yung Central Negros na tinatawag natin," Azcona said.

(Based on initial reports last night, the ashfall hit La Carlota, and it's one of our biggest areas for sugarcane.)

"If La Carlota is hit badly, malaki yung area ng La Carlota. La Carlota is probably one of the biggest single mills din sa Negros, and nasa La Carlota din yung biggest sugar farmer association sa buong Pilipinas. They produce almost 10 percent of the national production," he added.

(If La Carlota is hit badly, we will be affected. It has the biggest farmer association in the entire country.)

"Then it went further north up to Bago. Yung Bago naman, although there's still sugarcane, mainly rice naman si Bago. And dumating nga sa malapit sa Bacolod. So it will be a substantial part," he added.

(In Bago, there is sugarcane, but mostly, they produce rice. Ashfall is nearing Bacolod, so it will be substantial.)

Another Kanlaon eruption is possible, Phivolcs says

Azcona said that the last time Kanlaon erupted, damage was minimal because rains had washed the ash away from sugarcane leaves.

"Yung main problem is yung acidity ng ash. So if it stays on the leaves, it will burn the leaves. So, of course, when the leaves are burned, what happens is magma-mature yung cane a lot faster. And then it will go into inversion," Azcona said.

(The main problem is the acidity of the ash. If it stays on the leaves, it will burn them. When the leaves are burned, the cane will mature a lot faster. And then it will go to inversion.)

"Yung yield niya mababawasan. If it's on the soil, ganun pa rin. So yun yung medyo scary na part. We should make sure that this cane does not get affected. Kasi if not, matatamaan yung buffer stock mo dun sa huli," Azcona added.

(Your yield will be lessened. If the ash is on the soil, it would be the same. We have to make sure this cane will not be affected as the buffer stock will get impacted too.)

SRA said it would help sugar farmers, using savings from downsized Christmas celebrations.

"Okay, initially, we had a directive from ES Bersamin and the President to try and save on the Christmas celebrations and assist calamity. So, yung SRA po, we were able to save and first off, yun yung ilalabas natin for help with the victims," he said.

"Sa sugar industry naman, we did this in June and once again we will do it again," he said.