DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., along with Camiguin Governor Xavier Jesus Romualdo, Representative Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, and Mambajao Mayor Yñigo Jesus Romualdo led the unveiling of a commemorative marker for the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Hibok-Hibok Volcano eruption during the Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week 2026. The marker located at Mambajao Municipal Hall honors the victims of one of the deadliest volcanic eruptions in Philippine history, which led to the creation of COMVOL, later known as PHIVOLCS, and serves as a reminder of Camiguin’s resilience and the importance of disaster preparedness.
The marker reads:
“The 1951 Hibok-Hibok Volcano Eruption Commemorative Marker
The violent eruption of Hibok-Hibok Volcano on December 4, 1951, is one of the most destructive volcanic events in Philippine history, particularly devastating the municipality of Mambajao. The disaster severely impacted Mambajao and its surrounding areas, resulting in thousands of lost lives and forcing a massive evacuation that halved the island’s population. The explosive eruption led to the collapse of a lava dome and the occurrence of nuées ardentes (glowing avalanches), causing widespread destruction and significant loss of life. This event is still remembered today.
This event highlighted the urgent need for proper monitoring of the country’s volcanoes, leading to the enactment of Republic Act No. 766 and the creation of the Commission on Volcanology (COMVOL), now known as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
This marker commemorating the 75th year of the 1951 eruption of Hibok-Hibok Volcano was installed and unveiled on July 22, 2026, at the Mambajao Municipal Hall in Barangay Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin. It serves as a tribute to the resilience of the people of Camiguin and honors the establishment of modern volcano monitoring in the Philippines. This marker stands as a reminder of the ongoing commitment to ensuring a safer, more prepared future for the residents of Camiguin Island in the face of volcanic hazards.“
images by Phivolcs, PIA Camiguin
