EDITORIAL— Ash fall now something we have to prepare for

It would seem that aside from floods, typhoons, bomb threats, and lately shooting threats, there’s another thing that can shut down our schools. Yes, we are talking about ash fall.

The other day and yesterday, classes in different local government units in Cebu were called off after volcanic ash from the moderately explosive eruption of Mt. Kanlaon blanketed parts of the province. The other day, following the announcement, streets were suddenly clogged with vehicles taking students home.

While the ash fall was worst in areas near the volcano in Negros Island, people in many areas in Cebu also described fine dust settling in public areas, houses, and even parked vehicles.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environmental Management Bureau said volcanic ash isn’t just ordinary dust as it contains volcanic particles that can irritate the respiratory system and even the skin. People were advised to stay indoors while those who have to go outside were told to wear protective masks.

Of course, we don’t want our students to be out there while the dust is in the air. But it would seem that ash fall, while not occurring as frequently as floods, typhoons, bomb threats, and shooting threats, is another thing that can disrupt the education of our students.

With the climate running haywire, meaning natural disasters becoming more frequent than usual, this means ash fall is something our schools have to prepare for in the future.

We really don’t need anything else to disrupt the learning of our students --they are already doing bad when it comes to reading, science, and math-- but we don’t have much of a choice when Mother Nature throws a tantrum.

But then again, it’s not just the schools that have to prepare for ash fall. Government offices, private establishments, other institutions, as well as entire neighborhoods and communities were affected too. We also have to prepare those.

Because the Philippines is the most vulnerable nation in the world when it comes to natural disasters, ash fall might just be something we have to live with in the future.