Albay: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is on full alert after Mayon Volcano's unrest was raised to Level 3. In a statement on Tuesday, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response and Management Group assured that Field Office-Bicol Region (FO-5) is continuously coordinating with local government units (LGUs) in Albay province.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Quick Response Teams (QRT) and Social Welfare and Development officers are actively monitoring the situation in Albay in coordination with national disaster agencies. Dumlao stated that Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD) staff have been deployed to potentially affected populations within the six-kilometer danger zone to support designated evacuation centers.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology elevated Mayon Volcano to Alert Level 3 on Tuesday, signaling an increased tendency toward a hazardous eruption, following the escalating rockfall activity and edifice inflation observed since January 1.
The DSWD is preparing for a possible ashfall, which is most likely to impact the southern side of the volcano based on the prevailing wind pattern in the Bicol Region. Data from DSWD-Bicol indicates that 122 families, or 601 individuals, from Guinobatan and Camalig have been affected by Mayon's activity.
Evacuation efforts are underway for residents living within the six-kilometer danger zone. Dumlao assured that sufficient stockpiles and standby funds amounting to PHP132.59 million are available at the DSWD-Bicol Region to sustain relief operations.
Field Office-5 is maintaining 111,164 boxes of family food packs, 16,580 ready-to-eat food boxes, and 15,746 non-food items. Relief supplies and logistics have been prepositioned in 23 warehouses across the region, with continuous replenishment of food and non-food items stored in LGU facilities.
Social protection assets, including mobile kitchens, a mobile command center, and a mobile water system, are on standby and ready for deployment as needed.
