Lagman: Over 33,000 may flee homes if Mayon placed under Alert Level 4

MANILA, June 15 ----- More than 33,000 residents may be forced to flee their homes should Mayon Volcano be placed under Alert Level 4, Albay Governor Edcel Greco Lagman said Wednesday.

In a briefing on Mayon's situation with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Lagman said about 33,326 individuals—or 8,637 families—may be affected by the volcano's unrest if it worsens. Lagman also told Marcos that his province would need a fund of P196.7 million to continue supporting evacuees for 90 days. The President responded by telling his Cabinet to study the proposed budget, as Albay's P30-million quick response fund could only sustain evacuees for about 14 days. "I think for now, we should be using 90 days as our working number for how much more that we have to support," Marcos said. "The final figure of P196 million is something that we can dig. I think the numbers the governor has given us are a good guide already. But we have to go into further details," he added.

Some 20,543 learners may also be affected if Mayon's unrest escalates, as 47 schools in the province may be used as evacuation centers, Lagman said. Because of this, Marcos raised concerns that classes may be disrupted in the said schools as the 90-day evacuation window coincides with the opening of the new school year. As of Wednesday, more than 16,000 people are staying in 22 evacuation centers in Albay since Mayon started becoming restive, data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed. More than P33 million worth of assistance has been extended by the government, most of which was allotted for family food packs, the NDRRMC said.

Marcos was in Albay on Wednesday to personally check on the province's situation as it dealt with Mayon's continued spewing of ash and molten rock. He made an aerial inspection of the volcano, followed by another inspection of an evacuation center in Guinobatan, one of the towns closest to Mayon. The President said local officials should watch out for a possible spread of avian flu or swine flu among animals of affected residents. “We have to be careful, baka merong isa diyan na na may sakit eh baka magkalat kasi marami silang nagsasama dun sa area na 'yun. So bantayan natin 'yun, baka nga may mahanap tayo (na inpeksyon), we can do something about it kaagad,” he said.

According to the Department of Agriculture in the Bicol Region, there are 30 livestock evacuation centers for animals of affected residents. It will also give plastic coverings for crops or plants to protect them from ashfall. “We are now in the process of providing training on alternative livelihood sa ating mga evacuees katulad ng pag-aalaga ng rabbit, pagtatanim ng cash crop dun sa ating evacuation center to ensure na kahit na wala sila sa kanilang mga farms, (at) meron pa rin silang livelihood doon sa evacuation centers,” said DA-Bicol director Rodel Tornilla. Marcos said authorities need to prepare to sufficiently provide for evacuees for 45 to 90 days. “I think our working number should be 90 days, so mabuti na 'yung matapos nang mas maaga kaysa sa anticipated, kaysa mabitin naman ang ating bigay," he said.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) earlier said that Mayon could continue rumbling for months and force thousands to remain in evacuation centers. As of writing, Mayon remains under Alert Level 3.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com