LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—More than 10,300 people in Albay province were expected to be evacuated before dusk Friday as Typhoon Santi (international codename: Mirinae) inched closer and the threat from restive Mayon Volcano remained, officials said.

Albay has been on "'preparedness status" the past few days for such hazards as flash floods, lahar flows, landslides, high winds and storm surges in coastal areas, said Abundio Nuñez, plans and operations chief of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau Pagasa raised storm Signal number 2 was raised over Albay, along with eight southern and central Luzon provinces.

Nuñez said authorities expected to have evacuated up to 1,984 families or 10,332 persons by 4 p.m. Friday as recommended by the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council.

He said the number of evacuees could increase as Governor Joey Salceda gave all mayors authority to conduct preemptive evacuation based on the local situation.

Salceda had ordered 24-hour duty for all the disaster operation Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management office, since last Tuesday when plans to move up to 300,000 people were drawn up as the province went on high alert for Santi and a possible Mayon eruption

With the danger of lahar flows, the number of evacuees could climb even higher, said Cedric Daep, chief of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has kept the alert on Mayon at Level 2 and recommended strict enforcement of restrictions barring people from within six to seven kilometers around the volcano, which have been declared a permanent danger zones.

Twenty-seven truckloads of relief goods sent by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to Bicol arrived In Legazpi Thursday evening as part of the government’s pre-positioning of food and other materials needed by people that may be displaced by the storm or volcanic eruption.

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., who presided over a meeting of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council in Pili, Camarines Sur on Friday, said the relief goods will be distributed to all Bicol provinces.

"We have learned lessons from the previous typhoons, so the President wanted these relief goods to be pre-positioned before any eventuality could happen. These will be ready for distribution once calamity strikes," he said.

Meanwhile, the disaster coordinating councils in the 12 towns of Camarines Norte have also been placed on high alert.

In Labo, the largest municipality, officials kept watch over the Labo River, which winds through 13 villages, and could overflow because of the expected heavy rains..

"We have readied rubber boats in case of flooding. Officials in the low-lying villages were also told to prepare their boats. Disaster management officials will be on duty for 24 hours now," said civil defense officer Carlos Galvez.

Residents in the coastal and riverside villages of Bagasbas, Awitan, Mambalite, and San Isidro in the capital town of Daet were also told to prepare, and evacuate in case the situation worsens.

In Santa Elena town, elementary schools will be readied for evacuees, said Antonio Callejo, chair of Barangay Poblacion.

Michael Narido, planning officer at the mayor's office of Vinzons town said preemptive evacuation would be ordered.

As of 4 p.m. Friday, residents of Talisay town already had reported heavy rains and gusty winds.

Reports from Rey Nasol, Juan Escandor Jr. and Jonas Cabiles Soltes, Inquirer Southern Luzon