The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol Region has started evacuating people amid the increasead volcanic activity of Mt. Mayon.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian had earlier ordered the prepositioning of at least 100,000 Family Food Packs (FFPs) in various warehouses in Albay province in preparation for the worse-case scenario for Mayon.
On Thursday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised Alert No. 3 on Thursday (June 8) as Mayon continues to exhibit “increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.
The DSWD chief also ordered the deployment of 1,500 big tents for possible evacuees coming from within the 6-kilometer danger zone designated by PHIVOLCS.
DSWD Bicol regional director Norman Laurio earlier held a coordination meeting with Legazpi City Mayor Carmen Geraldine B. Rosal and Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Officer Miladee N. Azur to check on their available resources and other possible needs.
“They have specifically requested for big tents in case of evacuation since Legazpi barangays are located within the 8-10 kilometer danger zone,” Director Laurio reported
Evacuation centers and basic necessities for the projected 15,000 families living within the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone are now being prepared by the Bicol regional office of DSWD.
Director Laurio said simultaneous preparations are now being done, in close coordination, with DSWD Bicol to ensure that “we can respond immediately as one with all the services needed by the Albayanons.”
“We have tapped all line agencies for this Mayon Operations. We have also tapped the Province of Camarines Sur for inter-provincial operability because they have the resources needed such as water lorries, mobile clinics, and mobile kitchen. They are ready to respond,” Director Laurio reported to the DSWD Central Office.
Mayon last erupted in 2018, which lasted 2 months and 16 days, from Jan. 13, 2018 until March 29, 2018.