Albay placed under calamity state due to Mayon restiveness

REAWAKENING Around 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, rocks are seen falling down the slopes of Mayon Volcano from the crater summit, in this shot taken at Barangay Busay in Daraga town, Albay province. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has raised the alert level and nearby villagers have been told to flee to safety. Mayon last erupted in January 2018. MARK ALVIC ESPLANA

LEGAZPI CITY — Albay was placed under a state of calamity on Friday afternoon due to the looming hazardous eruption of Mayon Volcano.

In resolution no. 0607-2023, the provincial council said this would allow the provincial government to use the calamity fund in the delivery of services, especially to the families affected by the activity of the volcano.

Eugene Escobar, chief of research division of Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo) said the eight affected local government units could use their quick response funds to support the needs of the evacuees such as food, non-food items, and assistance to farming families.

“Once the fund is exhausted, we will request assistance from the national government,” Escobar said during the special session of the provincial council at a hotel in this city.

Albay Governor Edcel Greco Lagman earlier said that of the P42-million quick response fund of the province, P30 million would be allocated for the evacuation operation.

On Thursday, Lagman ordered the mandatory evacuation of families inside the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone.

The latest record of Apsemo says 4,749 families, or 18,184 people, were living in 14 villages inside the danger zone. INQ

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