Aquatic lifeline: PH Navy ship desalinates seawater for Mayon evacuees

BRP Andres Bonifacio. Photo from the Philippine Navy

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine Navy ship in Albay supplies clean water to Mayon Volcano evacuees using desalination equipment.

The BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS17), one of the Navy’s capital ships, contains a reverse osmosis desalination system.

“The said system can produce large amounts of fresh water,” the Navy said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the ship could provide 32,000 liters per day for at least 1,000 affected families.

This deployment was in light of Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro’s commitment to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that the Navy would deploy ships capable of converting seawater to drinkable water.

As of Wednesday, More than 20,000 residents have been staying in evacuation centers in Albay, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) placed  Mayon Volcano under Alert Level 3 on June 8 due to “potential explosive activity happening within days or weeks.”

Phivolcs also said the unrest in Mayon Volcano might last for “at least” three months, leaving residents within the permanent danger zone to stay in evacuation centers within the said period.

Meanwhile, the Navy said the PS17 could serve as a mobile command and control for the local government of Albay should the volcano’s alert level be raised.

JPV/abc