MANILA — There were 306 rockfall events observed at Mayon Volcano, the second day in a row that it surpassed the 300-mark as it continued its unrest that has displaced thousands of residents.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said there were also two volcanic earthquakes recorded in the past 24 hours since Wednesday.
Phivolcs observed slow effusion from the summit crater emplaced lava flow and collapse debris on the Mi-isi (south) and Bonga (southeastern) gullies within approximately a kilometer from the crater. There were also three dome-collapse pyroclastic density current (PDC) that lasted three to six minutes.
Fair crater glow or “banaag” and incandescent rockfall shed from fluidal lava at the summit was observed as well as steam-laden plumes that reached 700 meters following the continuous moderate degassing from the summit crater.
Phivolcs said that Alert Level 3 is maintained over Mayon Volcano and warned a hazardous eruption is possible within weeks. It noted that there is currently a relatively high level of unrest as magma is at the crater.
The evacuation of residents in the 6-km radius permanent danger zone (PDZ) has been undertaken due to the danger of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards.
Meanwhile, there were 20 volcanic earthquakes recorded in Taal Volcano since Wednesday, including five volcanic tremors that lasted two to three minutes.
There was also an observed upwelling of hot volcanic fluids and voluminous emission of plumes that measured 2,100 meters tall.
There has been a short-term inflation of the western Taal Volcano island.
Taal remains under Alert Level 1 or low-level unrest.
Phivolcs has recommended the strict prohibition of entry into Taal Volcano island especially the main crater and Daang Kastila fissures, and occupancy and boating on Taal Lake.
Marcos satisfied with gov’t response
President Marcos expressed satisfaction with the government’s response to Mayon Volcano’s restiveness even as he reminded agencies to assess the needs of affected residents before providing them cash aid.
“I think that the response that we have put together is satisfactory, that we were able to prepare and we were able to achieve so far the no casualty that the province is saying,” Marcos said during a briefing on the situation of Mayon Volcano at the Albay Astrodome in Legazpi City last Wednesday. “Let us continue that. We will follow that principle in everything that we are doing.”
In an interview with reporters in Taguig yesterday, Marcos gave assurance that the government has enough funds to help those who were affected by the activities of the volcano. However, he noted that not all concerns of the evacuees can be addressed by cash.
“Whatever is needed, we will have to provide… All agencies are already engaged in the rehabilitation effort, in (support of) the evacuees… Because we are not just talking about cash. We are also providing non-cash (assistance),” the President said.
Marcos said some issues affecting the displaced persons are not quantifiable, including those related to their mental health and the education of children.
During the situation briefing in Albay, Gov. Edcel Greco Lagman said P196.7 million is needed to help the residents affected by the volcano’s restiveness. He said the amount covers relief services, water and sanitation, health emergency services, temporary learning spaces, livestock evacuation, logistics and emergency assistance.
More than 33,000 people may be displaced if Mayon Volcano, now under Alert Level 3, is placed under Alert Level 4, the governor added.
Marcos said families in evacuation centers have received food packs and hygiene kits from the government but some of their needs are not yet provided.
He said the evacuees must have some activity or livelihood source while waiting for Mayon Volcano to stabilize.
The labor department assured Marcos that it would include the evacuees in its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD program for 30 days.
The program provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum of ten days but not more than 30 days.
The DepEd, meanwhile, will be having a learning camp for displaced children. Temporary learning shelters or spaces will also be set up in evacuation centers with the help of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.
Evacuees could reach 30,000 families
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday said that the number of families to be evacuated due to the eruption of Mayon Volcano could reach 30,000 if the alert level escalates further.
In a television interview, NDRRMC spokesperson Bernardo Alejandro IV said there are 17,900 persons in 25 evacuation centers. The evacuation centers are in five towns, but Alejandro said it could spill over.
“Based on the guidance of the President wherein we really have to prepare for a worst case scenario, we are looking at, in case of an elevation of the alert level, we are looking at close to 30,000 families that will be in evacuation centers,” the spokesperson bared, as he admitted that the challenge is to properly manage the evacuation center.
Good for 3 months
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian has assured President Marcos that food packs supplies for victims of the Mayon volcano eruption can last up to three months.
He reassured the Chief Executive that the DSWD Central Office has already dispatched 153,000 food packs for the 90-day cycle for the province of Albay.
Gatchalian earlier said that after the DSWD shouldered 15 days-worth of family food packs, the Albay provincial government would take its turn feeding the affected families for six days. On the 21st day, the DSWD will step in again to provide food packs for another 15 days.
The DSWD chief said that if the volcanic unrest in Albay gets prolonged to 90 days, the DSWD would reconvene with concerned local government units to form an “arrangement as to who feeds on what days.”
Open city
As domestic and foreign assistance continue to pour in for affected residents, the Albay local government said it is declaring the province an open city but with modification.
Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office OIC Eugene Escobar said that in an open city setup, anybody or any organization could go direct to the target recipients and distribute the assistance they intend to give.
“But in the open city that we wish to carry out, we will request the donor to conduct a ceremonial distribution of the donated items then the province will be the one to do the actual distribution to the recipients,” Escobar said.
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