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PBBM vows provision for 39k evacuees and counting; Alert Level 3 stays
Amid concerns that evacuees may be in for a long wait before they can return to their homes near the restive Mayon Volcano, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday night assured those affected by its eruption that the government would provide them non-stop assistance.
“We went to visit our compatriots in Bicol who were affected by the eruption of the Mayon Volcano. What we found there is that our evacuees are in good condition–at least they have been given a place and they are being given help,” the President said in a YouTube message.
“It might take a while, they will be evacuated for several months until the Mayon Volcano eruption stops, so we are preparing well that even if it takes time, the government is ready to give help to those who have been evacuated within a six-kilometer radius of the volcano,” he added.
On Sunday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said nearly 39,000 people have been affected by Mayon’s unrest, with more than half of them seeking shelter in evacuation centers
At least six cities and towns have also suspended classes, the council said.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno reported to the President during a briefing on Wednesday that 9,571 families from 26 barangays have been affected by the volcano’s eruption, and 4,471 of these families are in evacuation centers.
Nepomuceno said P35 million worth of assistance has been provided by the national government, apart from the assistance provided by local government units (LGUs).
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) meanwhile said on Saturday that only two volcanic earthquakes were recorded in Mayon Volcano, and said this was a positive development.
“As of now, we don’t see many volcanic earthquakes. That’s significant because as the magma rises, we should have recordable low frequency volcanic earthquakes. Only two since 5 a.m. yesterday and 5 a.m. today,” said Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol. “We have only recorded two volcanic earthquakes although the total seismic energy release is increasing slightly, but again we have to look at this closely.”
He said the alert level would remain at 3 for now.
“So, when there are abrupt changes in the parameters, we might consider extending the danger zone to seven kilometers or if not when it is really too abrupt, we have to raise to Alert Level 4 but for now it’s still maintained at Alert Level 3,” he added.
Phivolcs raised the alert status to 3 on June 8, after Mayon exhibited a magmatic eruption that increased the chances of lava flows and hazardous pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) and of potential explosive activity within weeks or even days.
On Sunday, AKO Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda appealed to the Senate for the swift approval of the bill advocating the establishment of permanent evacuation centers in every local government unit.
The necessity for such centers has been driven home by the predicament faced by the Bicol region, which frequently encounters powerful storms and which is now grappling with the threat of an eruption from Mayon Volcano, Co said.
“The approval of this bill is of paramount importance in safeguarding the lives and well-being of our communities. The traditional practice of utilizing public schools as evacuation centers falls short in providing the necessary facilities to accommodate evacuees effectively. We must prioritize the safety of our people without compromising their education,” he said.
House Bill 7354, spearheaded by Speaker Martin Romualdez, seeks to establish evacuation centers in every city and municipality nationwide.
Salceda said the establishment of permanent evacuation centers will enhance the country’s preparedness and resilience in the face of environmental challenges.
“We must prioritize the approval of this bill to provide the necessary infrastructure that can adequately support our communities during calamities,” Salceda said.
Phivolcs said the “very slow” effusion of lava from Mayon’s summit dome has reached as far as 1.5 kilometers. As of 12 a.m. Sunday, lava flows along the south and southeast gullies had advanced by 1.5 kilometers and 1 kilometer, respectively.
This marked the seventh consecutive day that Mayon Volcano gave off lava.
On Saturday, three volcanic earthquakes, 274 rockfall events, and 11 pyroclastic density current events were recorded over 24 hours.
The volcano emitted 1,004 tons of sulfur dioxide on Saturday, and a moderate 100-meter-tall plume drifted generally west.
Mayon Volcano Observatory resident volcanologist Paul Alanis told radio dzBB that the current activities in the volcano may last up to three months, noting that no explosive eruption has occurred so far.
On Sunday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said nearly 39,000 people have been affected by Mayon’s unrest, with more than half of them seeking shelter in evacuation centers
At least six cities and towns have also suspended classes, the council said.
The government has also extended assistance worth more than P62 million to affected residents, most of them food packs provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Albay Gov. Edcel Greco Lagman earlier proposed allotting about P196 million in funds to support thousands of evacuees from his province for 90 days, a suggestion that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the national government said they will consider. — Vince Lopez and Rio N. Araja
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