DSWD allots standby funds, stockpiles for Mt. Mayon

By Rhaydz Barcia

LEGAZPI CITY ---The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol has allocated ₱137 million in standby funds and relief stockpiles to assist families should Mount Mayon erupt in the coming days.

DSWD Bicol Regional Director Norman S. Laurio said during an emergency meeting convened by Albay Governor Noel Ebriega Rosal on Monday that the department has ₱137 million worth of funds and relief supplies prepositioned in its warehouses amid the intensified activity of Mayon Volcano.

Rosal convened the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) to discuss preparedness measures following the volcano’s notable increase in activity.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised Mayon’s alert level from Level 1 to Level 2 on January 1, 2026. Laurio said DSWD Bicol has been closely coordinating with the Provincial Government of Albay to ensure the safety of residents living in high-risk areas.

On January 5, 2026, the DSWD Bicol Disaster Response Management Team attended the PDRRMC emergency meeting at the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), presided over by Rosal and attended by local mayors, as well as representatives from the AFP, BFP, and PNP.

To ensure immediate assistance once augmentation is requested, Laurio said the agency has ₱137 million in combined standby funds and relief stockpiles. He added that two mobile kitchens, a mobile command center, and a mobile water system are on standby for deployment, while Quick Response Teams (QRTs) are ready to assist in evacuation center management and relief distribution.

Laurio underscored that the agency has been proactive since the alert level was raised.

“Immediately after Alert Level 2 was raised by PHIVOLCS, we dispatched our Disaster Response Management Division team together with other DSWD personnel to coordinate with local government units and inspect evacuation centers for readiness. We focused on the safety of 2,889 residents, comprising 729 families, currently living within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ),” Laurio said.

“I have also requested an additional 100,000 Family Food Packs to ensure sufficient supplies for any contingency,” he added.

Following the directives of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., DSWD Bicol remains in close coordination with the Provincial Government of Albay and municipal disaster offices to monitor the situation and provide technical and resource support as needed.

The PDRRMC, led by Rosal, reviewed volcanic activity data, evacuation strategies, and the possible activation of evacuation centers to ensure an orderly transition for affected families should the alert level be raised to Level 3.

Meanwhile, the Albay Provincial Tourism, Culture and Arts Office (PTCAO) has prohibited tourists from entering areas within the six- to seven-kilometer danger zone in compliance with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) directive.

PTCAO Tourism Chief Dorothy Colle said the no-entry policy within the six- to seven-kilometer PDZ will be strictly enforced starting this month until further notice.

“The tourism advisory prohibits tourists from entering the six- to seven-kilometer PDZ in compliance with the PDRRMC issuance,” Colle said.

In line with PDRRMC-APSEMO Advisory 2026-1, all tourism-related activities are strictly prohibited within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone of Mayon Volcano, effective immediately.

“No entry of tourists and visitors, no tours, trekking, sightseeing, recreational activities, tourism operations, or events. This measure is for public safety, and all tourism stakeholders and the public are urged to strictly comply until further notice,” Colle said.

She clarified that tourism destinations outside the restricted zones remain safe for visitors.

PHIVOLCS Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division Chief Mariton Bornas reported that incandescent rockfall from Mayon’s summit lava dome was recorded at 10:46 p.m. on January 5, 2026, as captured by camera and seismic monitoring systems of the Mayon Volcano Network. PHIVOLCS also recorded sulfur dioxide emissions amounting to 702 tons on January 6, 2026.

A total of 85 rockfall events were recorded in the past 24 hours. Alert Level 2 remains in effect over Mayon Volcano, and entry into the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone is strictly prohibited. PHIVOLCS also warned against entry into the Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) without utmost vigilance.

Possible hazards include sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions, rockfalls, landslides or avalanches, lahars during heavy and prolonged rainfall, and the prohibition of aircraft flights near the volcano.