Albay Gov Salceda gov’t renews alert vs straying into Mayon

LEGAZPI CITY—Albay Gov. Joey Salceda directed disaster authorities here to strictly enforce the “no human activity” rule inside the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) around Mayon Volcano.

In an e-mailed statement, Salceda told tour agencies to secure prior clearance from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), through the Albay Public Safety Emergency and Management Office (Apsemo), for tourism-related activities near the danger zone.

He said tourists and villagers should not venture into critical channels such as Basud, Mabinit, Bonga, Buyuan, Mi-isi, Anoling, San Vicente and Buang.

Officials warned tourists and residents against collecting orchids or taking treks on the slope of Mayon inside the danger zone.

The new directives were prompted by renewed signs of volcanic activity.

On Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported emission of steam that reached a maximum height of 400 meters above the summit crater.

Authorities are also strictly enforcing the no-entry rule inside the 4-km radius permanent danger zone around Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon.

Ed Laguerta, Phivolcs resident volcanologist, said Phivolcs continues to closely monitor Bulusan, especially after it spewed ash again on Friday and after ground deformation was seen around the volcano.

Ash from Bulusan has blanketed at least 70 villages in the towns of Juban, Irosin, Gubat, Barcelona, Casiguran and Bulusan since the 1,565-meter high volcano began acting up in November.