The governor of Negros Occidental said Monday afternoon that the provincial government is ready to declare a state of calamity status in his area due to Mt. Kanlaon's latest eruption.

Gov. Eugenio Lacson said they are just waiting reports from the affected local government units before they declare the province to be under the state of calamity.

"There are already 5 LGUs that are affected and they are already experiencing ash fall. Unfortunately, we have 2 hospitals in that area in La Carlota and Valladolid. We cannot be accepting in these 2 hospitals because of the ash fall," Lacson said in an interview with Nag-seserbisyo Nina Corpuz at Migs Bustos in TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

Kanlaon Volcano erupts; alert level raised to 3

The governor said they will be able to use P78-million for their quick response fund after declaring a state of calamity.

"That's something we can use initially, DSWD is already on alert. There are food packs that were ready to [be distributed]," Lacson said.

He added that even though this was not the first time Kanlaon erupted this year, this was still stronger than the previous one.

"Hoping lang na hindi na pumutok ulit... because last June we also had one. Pero definitely mas malakas ito. 'Yung initial ngayon is really the evacuation. Ang problema lang is makapal daw talaga 'yung ash fall, nahihirapan 'yung evacuation team natin," Lacson said.

Phivolcs has raised the alert level of Mt. Kanlaon to Alert Level 3, wherein those within 6-kilometers radius are subjected to a forced evacuation.