Losses due to Mayon eruption bared; No time to leave evacuation camps yet

By Rhaydz B.Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- The decampment of evacuation centers here will still have to wait as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) is not taking risk despite signs of slowing down of Mayon’s eruptive activity. Phivolc’s Paul Alanis told RDRRMC officials during the briefing on Tuesday presided by Sec. Francis Tolentino at Camp Simeon Ola here that Mayon might be quiet for now but this might be the calm before the storm episode,” Alanis said. “Mayon Volcano is still inflated. There is still danger for Mayon volcano to erupt,” he s Earlier, the provincial government of Albay through the Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office (Apsemo) was reported to be planning to decamp evacuees from the 8-km danger zone once the green light is given by Phivolcs. Currently there are 17,329 families or 66,009 persons staying in 61 evacuation centers from 45 barangays of three cities and six towns affected by Mayon eruption. Among the three cities, Legazpi remains with the highest number of evacuees with 3,053 families or 11,648 persons, followed by Tabaco with 1,914 families or 7,573 persons, and Ligao with 951 families or 3,982 persons. Among the six municipalities, Sto. Domingo has the highest number of evacuees with 2,941 families or 11,235 persons, Guinobatan with 2,764 families or 9,305 persons, Camalig with 2,436 families or 9,232 persons, Daraga with 1,828 families or 7,461 persons, Malilipot with 1,303 families or 5,067 persons, and Bacacay with 139 families or 506 persons. As to damage to agriculture, the provincial agriculture office reported a loss equivalent to P185,281,979. Palay incurred the biggest damage estimated at P160,496,550 affecting 5,375.95 hectares being planted by 5,750 farmers. Loss on vegetables and rootcrops was placed at P19,814.070.00 affecting 958.51 hectares and 3,092 farmers; Corn P3,417,109.00 affecting 706.25 hectares or 773 farmers; fruit bearing trees P1,076,250.00 covering 90.75 hectares and 176 farmers and abaca incurred P478,000.00 damages.