Albay prepares for the Big One
CITY – Mount Mayon has increased its seismicity and sulfur dioxide emission has increased to 3,428 tons per day which could be a sign of an impending bigger eruption, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) noted.
A total of 298 earthquakes have been recorded over the past 24 hours, more than double the 119 earthquakes recorded on Monday and
Tuesday.
Mayon erupted again yesterday at 8:13 a.m., 9:25 a.m. and 11:56 a.m. As of yesterday, at least seven million cubic meters of volcanic materials were released. It took two weeks before Mayon spewed 25 million cubic meters.
At about 11:51 a.m. Tuesday, Phivolcs said one lava collapse fed pyroclastic density current event on Miisi Gully occurred, producing a 1,250 meter-high ash cloud that drifted southwest.
This was succeeded by two more pyroclastic flow on the Basud Gully that lasted until 12:09 p.m. and produced ash clouds that still drifted southwest.
Phivolcs observed low whitish to light gray plumes that were continuously emitted from the crater throughout the day, and sporadic ashing began at 5:11 p.m.
This was followed by continuous and sluggish lava effusion in the evening and early morning that continually fed lava flows on the Miisi and Bonga gullies, while intermittent short-lived lava fountaining up to 200 meters occurred throughout the night.
Phivolcs strongly advised the public to be vigilant and desist from entering the eight-kilometer-radius danger zone.
It also advised civil aviation authorities to warn pilots from flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.
150 M delivered
As promised, the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) handed over to Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara the amount of 150 million for the Mayon evacuees two days after President Rodrigo Duterte visited the province. “We are tasked to hand over the said additional financial assistance worth P50 million to the provincial government of Albay through Governor Al Francis Bichara,” Amber Mirandilla, Presidential Staff Officer V of PMS Bicol, said in an interview after the ceremony.
Duterte visited Albay on Monday and personally assessed the ongoing disaster operations amid Mayon Volcano’s eruption that has so far sent 90,000 people to various evacuation shelters in six towns and three cities of Albay.
The President initially gave 125million check to Bichara and promised 150 million more.
Bichara, meanwhile, thanked the President for fulfilling his promise to the Albayanos.
“I believed his words. Lalaki naman kausap si Presidente, (The President is a man who keeps his promise.) I trust him, and we are thankful for giving us the additional financial aid,” Bichara said.
The governor said that the fund will be use for the food, sanitation and health needs of the evacuees who fled their homes due to Mayon’s eruption.
“Pag kinapos kami, (If we experience scarcity) we will cry again, paramarinig (so that we may be heard) from time to time, Bichara added.
Foreign aid
But still, Albay is coordinating with international agencies for assistance as it prepares for a worst-case scenario that could last three months.
“We are meeting with the local government units to identify their needs,” Dr. Cedric Daep, head of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) said.
Initially, more tents are needed to decongest evacuation centers where about 70 to 80 persons cramped in one classroom that can only hold 50.
Bagumbayan Elementary School holds the most number of evacuees at 1,118 families (4,186 individuals).
Aside from the United Nations, other foreign aid groups that usually assist Mayon evacuees are the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
Daep said they expect JICA and AECID to focus more on rehabilitation.
Eva Grageda, acting head of the Provincial Social Work and Development Office said they hve received 128 million worth of donations which include sacks of rice, food items, medicine and masks.
“Some of the donors are proceeding to the evacuation centers but they are coordinating with us so we are able to monitor them,” said Grageda.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action is appealing to the public to donate plastic sheets and plywood to be used in constructing temporary shelters.
In a Solidarity Appeal, Caritas Philippines National Director Bishop Rolando Tirona said Caritas organizations will be constructing tents to provide dignified temporary shelters to at least 500 families.
Cash donations may be deposited to the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) branch in Intramuros, Manila under Account Name “CBCP CARITAS FILIPINAS FOUNDATION, INC.” with Account Number 49510071-08. (With reports from PNA and Leslie Ann G. Aquino)