Gov’t ready for disaster in case Mayon will erupt – Marcos

Mayon Volcano at Camalig, Albay as of 4pm, June 8, 2023. Contributed photo/Alyssa Ann M. Solano

MANILA, Philippines — Government offices concerned are ready to deal with disasters in case Mayon and Taal volcanoes will erupt.

This is the comment of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) placed Mayon under Alert Level 3.

Marcos was replying to an ambush interview with reporters after the ‘Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU)’ event at the Manila Hotel on Thursday night.

Marcos said signs are showing that magma is rising towards the tip of Mayon’s cone.

“We have been monitoring both Mayon and Taal. Taal, it seems, is not in such a precarious… such a dangerous situation,” he noted.

“Mayon is a little bit more advanced… Di pa naman lumalabas ‘yung lava (the lava has not come out) so… But if the lava flow starts, that’s when we really have a disaster,” the Chief Executive warned.

The President said government agencies are checking which areas would be affected, and how families would be evacuated if an eruption will occur.

“Right now, what we are doing is preparing and moving people away from the area,” Marcos said.

“I hope it doesn’t happen. But unfortunately, the signs tell us na parang gano’n na nga ang mangyayari kasi the lid or cap on top of the lava is slowly rising — not so slowly rising at baka pumutok nga,” the President emphasized.

(But unfortunately, the signs tell us that it may happen because the lid or cap on top of the lava is slowly rising – not so slowly and it may really erupt.)

“Kaya nakaabang tayo nang husto at naka-ready naman tayo,” he added.

(That is why we are monitoring the situation very closely and we are ready.)

Earlier, Phivolcs placed Mayon volcano on Alert Level 3, after it saw an increase in rockfall events since June 3.

This situation may signal a spike in dome growth or inflation — usually indicative of magma rising to the surface.

Phivolcs also observed ash fall over Legazpi City and Daraga town – the two areas in Albay which are in the vicinity of the volcano.

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