Not only face mask: Healthcare expert tells Albay residents to wear goggles outdoor

By Ernie Delgado

LEGAZPI CITY ---Aside from protective masks, people near the rumbling Mayon Volcano in Albay province should wear safety goggles whenever they go out, the Department of Health Bicol Center for Health Development (DOH-BCHD) said on Tuesday.

Dr. Aurora Teresa Daluro, head of the Public Health Preparedness and Response Unit of DOH-BCHD, said that individuals affected by ash fallout from Mayon should wear close-fitting eyeglasses with side shields to protect their eyes from the harmful effects of sulphur-laden ash.

“It’s not just the nose and mouth where dust particles can enter; they can also affect the eyes. Therefore, goggles should be used, as fine dust can irritate the eyes,” Daluro said during the Ugnayan sa Bicol briefing, speaking in both Filipino and English.

Daluro issued this health advisory as a precautionary measure following reports of ash from Mayon blanketing areas near the volcano.

According to a bulletin from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology released on Sunday, Mayon remains at Alert Level 3, which indicates “intensified unrest” and “magmatic unrest.”

This level suggests that a hazardous eruption could occur within weeks or even days.

Personnel from the Legazpi city government and police officers distributed hundreds of N95 masks to residents and motorists on Tuesday, as volcanic ash from Mayon drifted toward the villages of Matanag, Bonga, Mabinit, Buyoan, and Padang.

Volcanic ash also reached parts of Daraga, Camalig, and Guinobatan towns due to the Northeast Monsoon winds, according to Roderick Mendoza, chief of Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office.

Officials said this initiative aims to help those living and working in the affected areas carry out their activities safely, as exposure to ash can disrupt breathing.

“Just like during the COVID pandemic, we shouldn’t go outside without an N95 mask,” Daluro said.

Given the shortage of N95 masks, Daluro advised that individuals must use whatever protective measures they have to shield themselves from the harmful effects of the ash.

“If we don’t have N95 masks and we must go outside our homes or offices, we should make sure to have a small towel to cover our face. It should be damp to help filter the air,” she said.

“If the ashfall is severe and we don’t have dust masks, we should stay indoors and close all doors and windows,” she added.

“If we’ve already closed everything, but there are still gaps, we should cover them with a damp cloth.” (PIA Bicol)