Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has mandated a comprehensive government response to support communities impacted by the ashfall resulting from the ongoing unrest of Mayon Volcano in Albay province. In a statement Sunday, Malaca±ang specified that this directive involves the urgent mobilization of key agencies to safeguard public health, ensure safety, and maintain essential services access in affected areas, notably in the municipalities of Guinobatan and Camalig.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Public Works and Highways has initiated clearing operations to remove volcanic ash from major roads, facilitating safe passage for residents and emergency responders. Concurrently, the Department of Health has commenced the distribution of N95 masks and deployed mobile clinics and water stations to address respiratory issues caused by the ashfall, such as coughing, breathing difficulties, and eye irritation.
The Bureau of Fire Protection, through the Department of the Interior and Local Government, was deployed for water spraying and ash clearing operations. Evacuation efforts are being executed under the Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, with authorities closely monitoring high-risk zones around the volcano. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has prepositioned thousands of food packs, ready-to-eat meals, and other relief supplies for families in evacuation centers across the Bicol Region.
Authorities are also vigilantly observing rivers and waterways for potential lahar flows, especially in the event of heavy rains. Mayon Volcano, renowned for its near-perfect cone shape, has a history of sudden eruptions that can lead to ashfall, lava flows, and hazardous mudflows. It continues to exhibit signs of intensified and magmatic unrest, with 32 volcanic earthquakes recorded on Saturday, including 25 volcanic tremors lasting from two to 15 minutes, affecting at least 50 villages in Albay.
Residents in affected areas have been advised to remain indoors, wear protective masks, and adhere to advisories from local government units (LGUs) as the situation evolves. Meanwhile, Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento instructed the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) to collaborate closely with the DSWD and LGUs to ensure immediate and necessary support for former New People's Army combatants and non-combatants following the eruption.
OPAPRU field teams are actively validating which former rebels and their families have been affected by the volcanic activity. Records indicate there are currently 42 former rebel combatants recognized by the Joint Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police Intelligence Committee and 15 former rebels' Peoples Organizations composed of 403 non-combatant members in Albay. Sarmiento assured that all emergency relief and socio-economic support will be systematically tracked and directed through official government networks for maximum efficiency.
"Our objective is clear: We must be seen and felt as an institution that truly empathizes and genuinely cares," Sarmiento said. "Not only for former combatants, but for the communities that once stood behind them. We will not be distant and we will not be indifferent. By actively reaching out and checking on them, we send a strong and unmistakable message: They are not forgotten, they matter, and they will continue to matter to us."
