Canlaon City schools are set to reopen their doors to students beginning August 26, 2026, after local authorities determined that conditions brought about by ashfall from Kanlaon Volcano had sufficiently improved to allow a safe return to in-person learning.
The formal directive came through Executive Order No. 83, Series of 2026, signed by Mayor Jose Chubasco B. Cardenas, according to the Canlaon City Government. The order explicitly authorizes the resumption of face-to-face classes and all other school activities that require students to be physically present on campus.
How the Suspension Came About
The class suspension that preceded this latest order was itself a precautionary measure. The Canlaon City Government had placed all public and private schools under suspension beginning August 24 at 12 noon, citing the threat posed by ashfall and the continuing volcanic activity of Kanlaon Volcano at that time.
Authorities monitored conditions closely over the following days before concluding that the situation no longer justified keeping schools closed across the entire city. The decision to lift the suspension was made in response to the latest scientific data available to city officials.
PHIVOLCS Monitoring Guided the Decision
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology — the national agency responsible for tracking volcanic activity — played a central role in informing the city's decision. According to the Canlaon City Government, updated monitoring data and official advisories from DOST-PHIVOLCS showed improved conditions that no longer warranted a continued citywide suspension of classes.
This underscores the city's reliance on science-based guidance when making public safety decisions that affect thousands of students, teachers, and school personnel.
Special Rules for Schools Inside the Danger Zone
Not all schools fall under the blanket resumption order. The Canlaon City Government specified that schools located within Kanlaon Volcano's six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone are subject to a separate and distinct provision under Executive Order No. 83.
For those schools, the decision on whether to resume or continue holding classes rests with individual school heads. These officials are directed to take into account prevailing on-the-ground conditions, the safety and welfare of students and school personnel, and current advisories from DOST-PHIVOLCS, the Department of Education, and other relevant government authorities before making any determination.
This tiered approach recognizes that proximity to the volcano's most hazardous zone requires a more localized and situational assessment than a blanket city-level order can provide.
Call for Continued Vigilance
Even as normal academic activities resume, the Canlaon City Government emphasized that the lifting of the suspension does not signal an all-clear from all volcanic hazards. School officials, teachers, students, parents, and guardians were urged to remain vigilant and to continue observing safety and precautionary measures.
The city government also reminded all school communities to stay informed by regularly monitoring official updates from DOST-PHIVOLCS, the Canlaon City Government itself, the Department of Education, and other concerned national and local agencies.
LDRRMO Remains on Standby
The Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office will not be standing down following the resumption of classes. According to the Canlaon City Government, the LDRRMO will continue to coordinate with DepEd and other relevant agencies to monitor volcanic conditions on an ongoing basis.
Should circumstances deteriorate, the LDRRMO is prepared to recommend a renewed suspension or outright cancellation of classes. This contingency mechanism ensures that the city retains the flexibility to respond quickly if Kanlaon Volcano's activity intensifies once again.
Order Remains in Force Until Changed
Executive Order No. 83 takes effect on August 26, 2026, and will remain in force unless it is amended, revoked, or superseded by a subsequent executive order. The Canlaon City Government has not indicated any fixed end date for the order, meaning its duration is tied directly to evolving volcanic conditions rather than a predetermined timeline.
By the Numbers
- August 24, 12:00 noon — date and time the original class suspension took effect
- August 26, 2026 — effective date of the class resumption order
- 6 kilometers — radius of Kanlaon Volcano's Permanent Danger Zone, where school heads retain discretion over class resumption
- Executive Order No. 83, Series of 2026 — the specific issuance authorizing the resumption of face-to-face classes
Why This Matters
The lifting of the class suspension directly affects thousands of students and school personnel in Canlaon City who had their academic activities interrupted by volcanic ashfall from Kanlaon Volcano. The tiered approach — applying a city-wide resumption while leaving schools inside the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone to the judgment of individual school heads — reflects the complexity of operating educational institutions near an active volcano. The continued role of DOST-PHIVOLCS monitoring and the LDRRMO's standing readiness to recommend renewed suspension signal that authorities are treating this as an ongoing situation rather than a resolved one.
Source: Canlaon City Government / Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)