THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded just one volcanic earthquake at Mayon Volcano in Albay from Tuesday morning to yesterday morning, the same as in the previous 24-hour monitoring period.
Phivolcs also reported a decrease in other volcanic activities — 232 rockfall events (from 257), five pyroclastic current events (from six), and 1,170 tons of sulfur dioxide emission, from 1,558 tons.
Phivolcs said Mayon, which is under Alert Level 3 (increased tendency towards hazardous eruption), continues with its “very slow effusion of lava.”
It said lava flow at the Mi-isi gully has reached 2.8 km from the summit crater. Meanwhile, lava flow at Bonga gully has reached 1.3 km from the summit crater.
Mayon’s unrest has caused the evacuation of over 20,000 residents.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 9,776 families have been affected, or 37,944 individuals.
Of the number, 5,768 families (20,144 individuals) are displaced — 5,360 families (18,717 individuals) in 28 evacuation centers and 408 families (1,420 individuals) staying with relatives or friends.
NDRRMC said P132.12 million worth of assistance has been provided to those affected, including P44.66 million worth of family food packs and P19.95 million in financial aid.
The Department of Agriculture said some 6,182 hectares (ha) of crops may be affected by Mayon activities — 1,378 ha for rice, 1,125 ha for corn, 626 ha for vegetables, and 3,053 ha for fruits.
The DA also said 52,626 animals were heads, and its field office in the Bicol region has identified 26 animal evacuation and pooling sites outside the 6-kilometer radius extended danger zone (EDZ).
DA said to date, there are 20 animal pooling sites with 1,120 animals including cattle, carabao, goat and sheep evacuated from 467 farmers with more evacuation of animals still ongoing.
DA also so far provided P1.25 million worth of drugs, biologics and feeds for the evacuated animals, as well as regular livestock health monitoring and disease surveillance to safeguard the well-being and health of the animals residing in the centers, while simultaneously preventing the spread of potentially harmful diseases.
Another P1.17 million worth of agricultural inputs were distributed to evacuees for the establishment of communal gardens at evacuation sites apart from the setting up of Kadiwa rolling stores near evacuation centers. — With Jed Macapagal
