LARGE sections of a metal fence of the observation station of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) at Mayon Volcano in Albay was sawed off and stolen.
Phivolcs announced the incident only yesterday, 14 days after discovering that “significant sections of metal fencing were sawed off and taken” from its Upper Lidong Observation Station on the eastern borders of Legazpi City.
The agency said this was discovered during a “routine preventive maintenance activity” by personnel of the Phivolcs Mayon Volcano Observatory.
“This station operates critical monitoring instruments, including a borehole tiltmeter for recording ground deformation caused by magma movement beneath the southeast flank of Mayon and an infrared camera for visual observations of the edifice even during nighttime,” said Phivolcs.
It said the facility, which was commissioned in October 2022, has “provided crucial data covering the recent 2023 eruption of Mayon that led to its successful early-warning and response.”
Phivolcs reminded the public that such act is punishable under Republic Act 10344 or the “Risk Reduction and Preparedness Equipment Protection Act.”
It urged local government units and communities in Mayon “to help in keeping volcano monitoring facilities safe from such illegal acts so that operational coverage of every sector of the volcano can be sustained.”
“Any information concerning the above case of vandalism, as well as all prompt reporting of similar incidents in the future, will be greatly appreciated,” added Phivolcs.
Mayon Volcano is under Alert Level No. 1 (low-level unrest). Entry into the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone is not allowed.
Phivolcs said possible hazards are sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions, rockfalls or landslides/avalanches, and lahar during heavy and prolonged rainfall.
Phivolcs recorded one volcanic earthquake in the area on Tuesday. Mayon’s sulfur dioxide emission on Monday was measured at 581 tons.
