Gov’t ramps up response as Mayon unrest places parts of Albay under state of calamity
THE Philippine government ramped up relief and response operations for communities affected by Mayon Volcano’s intensified unrest, with several areas in Albay now placed under a state of calamity, Malacañang said on Wednesday.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has directed all concerned agencies to coordinate efforts on the ground, as evacuation and humanitarian support continue, according to Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro.
Ms. Castro said response efforts will continue as long as volcanic activity poses a threat to surrounding communities.
Authorities have distributed more than 93,000 food packs, alongside 1,400 ready-to-eat food boxes and over 7,600 non-food items, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Teams from the Office of Civil Defense, Public Works officials, police and fire units, and local governments are carrying out debris clearing while strictly enforcing the six-kilometer permanent danger zone.
Officials are also ensuring the orderly operation of evacuation centers and the sustained delivery of essential services such as food, healthcare, and sanitation.
Veterinary assistance is being extended to displaced livestock, while authorities conduct ongoing monitoring and post-disaster assessments to gauge further risks.
Ashfall from Mayon Volcano has blanketed about 8,544 hectares, roughly half the land area of Quezon City, based on satellite analysis by the Philippine Space Agency.
The thick ash plume, generated by recent volcanic activity, spread widely across parts of Albay, affecting multiple communities and reducing visibility.
In a separate statement, the Labor department said affected workers in the Bicol Region are set to receive government assistance as it allocated P110 million in emergency employment and livelihood aid.
This will support more than 20,000 workers, particularly those in ash-stricken communities, and help them recover from the impact of volcanic activity.
“We are continuing our profiling efforts because we need to organize the documents so that we can immediately provide assistance. We have allocated funds for this… we also coordinated with the Provincial Governor because we assured Governor Noel Rosal that the Department of Labor and Employment has assistance available,” Regional Director Imelda F. Gatinao was quoted as saying in a radio interview conducted in Filipino, according to the statement.
According to the department, the assistance will be delivered through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program, which provides temporary employment for affected individuals. Beneficiaries will take part in community rehabilitation efforts such as clearing ashfall debris and conducting cleanup operations for up to ten days, earning wages based on the prevailing regional minimum, it added. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana and Erika Mae P. Sinaking
