Albay Governor Edcel Greco Lagman is seeking assistance from the national government, as the local government’s budget to fund the needs of thousands of Mt. Mayon evacuees has run out.
“The quick response fund is about to be exhausted. That’s why I think we have to again look for other sources perhaps coming from the national government in terms of cash aid,” Lagman, quoted by ABS-CBN News, said.
Reports said the Albay government has shelled out some P32 million from its calamity funds to support the evacuation efforts since June 9, a day after scientists placed the active Mt. Mayon under Alert Level 3 for an increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.
As of Tuesday, Lagman said there were around 5,743 families or 20,068 people in the province’s 34 evacuation shelters. He warned earlier that the fund would only last for 15 to 20 days to cater to the needs of the evacuees.
Mt. Mayon is expected to continue acting up for months, state seismologists have warned.
Earlier, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued a notice of “increased activity” at the Mayon volcano—the second time in less than a week.
Mayon reportedly spewed hot volcanic particles and ash fall reaching Tabaco City.
Phivolcs also said Mayon has been having continuous tremor-like weak volcanic earthquakes since Monday.
The said quakes, recorded since 3:47 p.m. on Monday, until Tuesday afternoon.
The Phivolcs also said satellite monitoring detected a pronounced increase in sulfur dioxide emission on Monday.
Two-minute dome-collapse events were also observed within 1 to 2 kilometers from the crater at the Basud Gully (eastern slopes), Mi-isi Gully (southern slope), and Bonga Gully (southeastern slope).
Ashfall traces have also been reported by residents of Guinobatan and Ligao in Albay.
Alert Level 3 remains in effect in Mayon Volcano, Phivolcs said, which means increased tendency toward a hazardous eruption.
The increase in seismic energy release is being monitored closely, the agency added.
Meanwhile, the agency strongly recommends that the areas within the 6-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone remain evacuated, and preparation for evacuations for communities within the 7-kilometer and 8-kilometer Danger Zones be done.
PHIVOLCS raised the alert level on Mayon Volcano from level 2 to level 3 on June 8 signifying “increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.”