Palace officials head to Albay amid ‘soft’ eruption

Government officials at Guinobatan, Albay for humanitarian caravan for Mt. Mayon evacuees. Photo from DSWD Twitter account

MANILA, Philippines – Although it is unclear when President Benigno Aquino III will be able to personally visit the evacuees, Malacañang said Cabinet members went to check on them on Sunday morning amid reports of lava flow coming from Mayon Volcano.

“Habang nag-uusap po tayo ngayon ay nakatakdang dumalaw doon sina Kalihim Mar Roxas, Dinky Soliman, Enrique Ona, Voltaire Gazmin, at retired Admiral Alexander Pama na executive director ng NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) para po subaybayan ‘yung aktuwal na sitwasyon sa mga evacuation center at tiyakin ‘yung katapatan ng pagtulong na iginagawad sa lalawigan ng Albay,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said over state-run radio.

(While we are talking, Secretaries Mar Roxas, Dinky Soliman, Enrique Ona, Voltaire Gazmin and NDRRMC executive director and retired Admiral Alexander Pama are on their way there to observe the actual situation of people at the evacutation centers and to ensure that the province of Albay is being assisted.)

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, who was included in the group, posted photos of the officials onboard a helicopter.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said the officials will turn over relief goods to the evacuees as part of the humanitarian caravan, which aims to augment resources of the provincial government.

At least 31 trucks were filled with food packs, blankets and other necessities for the distribution in Guinobatan, Albay.

According to the NDRRMC, there are now 12,931 families or 57,633 people affected and staying in 48 evactuation centers.

Coloma said P88,773,524 has already been extended by various agencies and organizations, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Office of Civil Defense, Department of Health, Armed Forces of the Philippines, PhilHealth, Department of Education, Philippine National Red Cross and other non-government organizations.

The volcano remains on Alert Level 3, which means a hazardous eruption is expected within weeks.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said lava flow of about 350 meters long was observed on Sunday morning.

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