Tour operators warned vs sneaking into Mayon’s danger zone
LEGAZPI CITY – Tour guides and operators of all-terrain vehicles (ATV) have been warned against sneaking tourists into the sixkilometer permanent danger zone of Mayon Volcano.
Violators will face sanctions and the possibility of cancellation of their permits, Bicol tourism chief Benjie Santiago said yesteday.
Santiago issued the warning after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) advised local disaster officials not to be complacent as the volcano’s behavior remains abnormal and unpredictable.
Despite the warning, several tourists have reportedly been spotted entering the six-kilometer danger zone in Daraga, Albay.
Cedric Daep, Albay provincial security and emergency management office chief, said he would ask the officials of the Daraga disaster and management council to explain the presence of people in the danger zone.
The provincial government of Albay ordered ATV operators to stop bringing tourists to the danger zone as the volcano remained under Alert Level 3 yesterday.
Albay has an existing ordinance prohibiting entry to the danger zone, particularly when Mayon’s condition is abnormal.
Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo appealed to residents living within the danger zone not to return to their homes yet, as the volcano continues to spew lava.
Robredo urged the public to donate mattresses, blankets and food for the evacuees.
“The volcano is still in a relatively high level of unrest and hazardous eruption is possible within weeks or days,” Phivolcs said.
Animals evacuated
Meanwhile, livestock owned by evacuees from Barangay Upper Salugan in Camalig were brought to Agri-Etho Village in the nearby village of Cabangan for proper caring.
“Animals also suffer from stress due to volcanic eruption because they are sensitive to their surroundings,” municipal agriculturist Herminia Napiri said.
She said the Agri-Etho Village has veterinarians who could look after the animals.
She said the animals could get sick if they ate grass laden with volcanic ash.
Farmers in areas affected by ashfalls have been advised to first soak or wash the grass properly before feeding it to the animals.