The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has urged local government units (LGUs) to immediately evacuate residents living in "high-risk areas" and strictly enforce a "no-entry policy" within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of Mayon Volcano following its escalating unrest.
The directive came after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised Mayon Volcano to Alert Level 3 on Tuesday, Jan. 6, due to increased volcanic activity.
On Wednesday, January 7, Phivolcs reported 131 rockfall events and five pyroclastic density currents at Mayon Volcano, prompting authorities to maintain Alert Level 3 as the volcano continues to show signs of unrest.
“LGUs are directed to enforce immediate evacuation within the six-kilometer PDZ to safeguard lives, both human and animal, against the risk of lava flow surges, rockfalls, and other volcanic activities. Areas within this zone must be declared as off-limits,” the DILG said in a statement.
The department also advised residents living within a seven- to eight-kilometer radius from the crater to prepare for possible evacuation should volcanic activity further intensify.
In line with preparedness measures, the DILG instructed LGUs to activate their Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) on a 24/7 basis to strengthen coordination and ensure the safety of affected communities.
At least 75 families were evacuated and are currently staying in evacuation centers in Barangay Buang, Tabaco City, after the alert level was raised, according to a report by RH Ruel Saldico.
Some residents expressed concern over the impact of the evacuation on their livelihoods.
“Mahirap po sa pagtatanim, yung mga kabuhayan namin,” one affected resident said.
Aside from their damaged or abandoned farmlands, evacuees also worry about the safety of their livestock left behind in their homes.
Residents cited the lack of basic facilities such as cooking areas, toilets, and sufficient food supplies as their primary concerns in evacuation centers.
Residents in evacuation areas called for additional assistance from both the government and the public.
Meanwhile, the Albay Provincial Health Office has declared a 'Code White Alert' effective Tuesday, hours after Mayon Volcano’s alert level was raised, placing health facilities and personnel on standby to respond to any emergency related to the volcanic activity.
