Albay News January 2018

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Albay - Archived News
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Seal of the Province of Albay
Interactive Google Satellite Map of the Province of Albay
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Location of Albay within the Philippines
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Provincial Capitol Building of Albay, in Legazpi City

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Mayon volcano albay province.jpg

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Legazpi puts up animal evacuation center

By Connie Calipay and Emmanuel Solis (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY -- The city government here had put up an animal evacuation center in view of the continuous phreatic volcanic eruption of Mayon Volcano, a city top official said Wednesday.

Mayor Noel Rosal, in an interview, said it was necessary for the city to also have an evacuation center for all the animals inside the permanent 6-kilometer danger zone and extended 7 and 8-kilometer danger areas to ensure their safety.

On Wednesday morning, Mt. Mayon spewed ash again, affecting the animals in Legazpi City’s northern areas, which are part of the livelihood activities of the people residing near the volcano.

“We need to evacuate also those animals in a safer ground to protect the livelihood of the residents, being part of the source of their daily income,” the mayor added.

Rosal identified a one-hectare land in Barangay Padang outside the 8-km danger zone as evacuation center for animals. He said they would soon start advising the city residents presently housed in evacuation centers to bring their animals to the area.

Currently, the evacuees’ animals are left in their homes or fields. Some residents said they were forced to sell their animals prior to transferring to the various public schools in the city where they were now sheltered.

Rosal also revealed that based on the assessment of the City Agriculture Office, 75 farming families near the danger zone had suffered almost PHP1-million losses in production cost due to the ongoing restiveness of Mayon.

Meanwhile, Smart Communications Inc. said it continues its normal operations in the communities surrounding Mt. Mayon.

The company said its “Libreng Tawag, Charging, and Wi-Fi services” have been set-up in the following evacuation centers: Guinobatan: Guinobatan East Elementary School; Malilipot: San Jose Elementary School; Sto. Domingo: San Isidro Elementary School; Legazpi City: Bagumbayan Central school; and Daraga: Upper Malabog Elementary School.

Those in need of assistance may contact the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office through the following Smart hotlines: ‎0929-263-2202, ‎0929-263-2203, and ‎0998-406-8835.

Albay IRA released, other funds available for use

(DBM)

MANILA, Jan. 25 -- Last Monday, 22 January 2018, the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of the Province of Albay was released by the DBM, allowing the said province to tap its Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF).

“The IRA of all Local Government Units (LGUs), including that of the Province of Albay, was released on Monday. Normally, the funds would be downloaded simultaneously to all LGUs. However, given the situation in Albay, we made a request to the Bureau of Treasury to expedite the downloading of funds to Albay,” DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno said.

The Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) amounting to not less than five percent of the LGU’s estimated revenues from regular sources is set aside to support disaster risk management activities. 30 percent of the LDRRMF is earmarked as a Quick Response Fund (QRF) and 70 percent is allocated for disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation and recovery.

The total LDRRMF of Albay for FY 2018 is P94.2 million, with P28.26 million dedicated to Quick Response, and P65.94 million for Capital Outlays (CO) and Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) related to disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation and recovery.

Aside from the LDRRMF for FY 2018, LGUs can also tap into the unutilized LDRRMF for the past five years which is set up as a Trust Fund. The LDRRMF balance of Albay for FY 2017 is an estimated P39.2 million.

As of 23 January 2018, the Province of Albay has incurred expenses totaling to P21.2 million in response to the Mt. Mayon eruption.

National Government Agencies (NGAs) are also monitoring the situation in Albay and providing relief and assistance in their own capacity. NGAs have an available P7.6 billion in Quick Response Funds; P7 billion from which has already been comprehensively released to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of Agriculture (DA).

Aside from the QRF, NGAs may also source funds from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) which has a balance of P19.6 billion for FY 2018.

Government comforts Mayon evacuees with decongested emergency shelters

By Sally Atento-Altea (SAA-PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 24 (PIA) -- The city government of Legazpi has ordered decongestion of evacuation centers to provide a convenient shelter to families and individuals displaced by the restive Mayon volcano.

“As of now there are 15 families per room of the evacuation centers but we are bringing it down to only eight families per room as part of decongesting the areas to ensure the tranquility of all the people affected by the abnormality of the volcano,” City Mayor Noel Rosal said.

Rosal has directed the offices of the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWDO) and the City Risk Reduction and Management (CRRMO) to decongest all the city’s evacuation centers occupied by the residents covered by the six kilometers Permanent Danger zone (PDZ) and the extended 2 km danger zone in the city’s northern villages at the foot of Mt. Mayon.

The CSWDO has distributed relief goods including drinking water and other daily needs to make sure they are safe in the areas while the Red Cross has pledged to produce sufficient potable water for the affected families.

Rosal also urged the City Health Office to put up its own medical stations and deploy its ambulance cars to all evacuation centers for medical assistance purposes in case of emergency and other medical needs of the evacuees. The city government has ordered a preemptive evacuation on Monday evening to the residents of the five barangays within the 6 – 7 dangerous zones.

Philippine Red Cross alerts residents on health hazards of volcanic ash

(PRC)

MANILA -- The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) advised the affected communities to be vigilant on the health hazards of volcanic ash to human health as alert level 4 was raised over Mayon Volcano in Legazpi, Albay.

According to PRC Health Services, exposure to falling ash may cause a number of health problems especially respiratory illnesses such as nose and throat irritation, coughing, bronchitis-like illness, and discomfort while breathing. Eye irritation and minor skin problems are also among the bad effects of exposure to volcanic ash.

It can also cause vehicular mishaps resulting to injuries and casualties because of slippery of roads and poor visibility in areas affected by the ash fall.

Volcanic ash consists of powder-size to sand-size particles that have been blown into the air by an erupting volcano.

“The Philippine Red Cross already activated its health volunteers to disseminate awareness campaign on the health hazards that may ensue to individuals living around an erupting volcano,” PRC Chairman Richard Gordon said.

As part of the dissemination campaign, the PRC also educated the affected communities on ways to cope with ash fall and advised the residents to seek immediate medical attention in case of health concerns caused by volcanic ash.

“We urge the affected individuals to wear dust masks or anything to cover their nose and mouth to protect them from catching harmful emissions from the volcanic ash. We also advise the residents to report immediately to their local health centers and nearest PRC Chapter in case of health concerns from volcanic ash,” Gordon said.

To date, the PRC has already provided dust masks to 4,000 individuals. Another 4,000 dust masks were also sent yesterday in Albay for distribution in the coming days. A total of 60 goggles, and 300 N95 masks were also provided to the affected individuals to avoid the harmful effects of volcanic ash.

The PRC also conducted hygiene promotion activities to a total of 1,153 individuals in various evacuation centers in Albay. Five water bladders were already installed to provide the affected individuals access to clean and safe water.

Meanwhile, PRC assets such as three water tankers, two hot meals on wheels, three trucks and one radio team with communication equipment were all deployed.

The Philippine Red Cross, as the foremost humanitarian organization in the country, has 103 chapters with two million volunteers nationwide that is always first, always ready, and always there to provide round-the- clock humanitarian assistance, especially to the most vulnerable.

PRC services include disaster management, health, welfare, blood, volunteer service, and Red Cross youth.

DSWD gives P5-M relief aid to LGUs affected by Mayon unrest

By Leilani Junio (PNA)

MANILA -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Sunday gave more than PHP5 million worth of relief supplies to local government units (LGUs) affected by the eruption of the Mayon Volcano in Albay province.

DSWD Officer-in-Charge Emmanuel Leyco said the DSWD-Field Office 5 remains on red alert and continues to assist affected communities through resource augmentation and relief operations, and has helped in putting up evacuation tents in the province.

As of Sunday, the social welfare department's regional office in Bicol said 6,459 families or 24,381 persons are still being served in 29 evacuation centers set up by LGUs in areas determined to be within the danger zones which include Camalig, Guinobatan, Daraga, Ligao, Malilipot, Sto. Domingo, and Tabaco

The evacuation centers in Legazpi City have been closed since January 18 but evacuees were advised to remain on alert for any eventuality.

Members of the DSWD-Field Office 5 Quick Response Team, in coordination with social workers, are conducting daily visits to various evacuation centers to monitor the situation, and to further determine other services needed by evacuees.

Leyco said the national government's social workers are ready to assist their local counterparts in addressing the needs of the evacuees, including providing psychosocial support and setting up of more women and child-friendly spaces.

Classes resume amid Mayon threat: DepEd

By Ma. Cristina Arayata (PNA)

MANILA -- The Department of Education (DepEd) said classes continue in Albay amid the challenges brought by the Mayon volcano's high level of unrest.

In a press statement, DepEd said it is monitoring the situation to ensure that students, teachers and other personnel were safe and well-informed.

Mayon volcano has been declared on Alert level 3, which signifies increased tendency towards hazardous eruption, since Jan. 14.

As a result, a number of classrooms were used as evacuation centers.

DepEd said 33 schools were used as evacuation centers as of Jan. 17, while more than 8,000 people are currently occupying at least 445 classrooms.

It added that 17 schools are within the seven-kilometer permanent danger zone.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones urged local government units (LGUs) to build evacuation centers, so that schools need not be mobilized for this purpose and classes will not be disrupted.

Briones said the agency is also working with LGUs to provide alternative evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, DepEd said a number of schools has implemented double-shift classes to help minimize class interruptions.

"We are fast-tracking the release of funds for the speedy construction of 208 temporary learning spaces in Legazpi, Ligao and Tabaco cities," DepEd said.

It added that it plans to stockpile learning resources in areas prone to natural disasters to further ensure continuation of classes after a calamity.

Children in evacuation centers were also provided with educational support activities, DepEd said.

DSWD-Bicol to release shelter aid in 3 provinces

By Connie Calipay (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) office in the Bicol region, together with the local government units (LGUs), will start facilitating the distribution of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) to families in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes whose houses were destroyed by Typhoon Nina in December 2016.

DSWD Regional Director Arnel Garcia, in an interview Friday, said only those included in the validated list of qualified beneficiaries will be entitled to the cash aid.

"The schedule of the ESA payout will not be disclosed by DSWD to the public for security purposes. The ESA claimants can directly contact the LGUs that will announce the date of assistance distribution," Garcia added.

During the payout, the claimants must bring a valid government-issued ID, with picture and signature. If the claimant is dead, the household member who is included on the ESA form can present a document that will prove the relationship, such as marriage or birth certificate. If the beneficiary is a member of the Indigenous Peoples community, the claimant should bring a certification from the barangay council and municipal social welfare and development office.

Families with partially damaged houses will receive PHP10,000 to be paid through the provincial LGU. For totally damaged houses, families will receive PHP5,000 of the P30,000 cash assistance and the balance will be distributed by the municipal LGU.

Similarly, the provincial government of Camarines Sur will do the payout for the municipality of Libmanan.

The payroll prepared by DSWD regional office is the sole basis of the ESA payout.

The ESA is the provision of emergency “self-build” shelter assistance through limited financial assistance to augment the resources of families affected by disasters.

It enables them to purchase shelter materials required in constructing or repairing their damaged houses as a result of disasters.

More tourists flock to Legazpi to view Mayon

By Emmanuel Solis (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY -- More local and foreign tourists are arriving in this premier Bicol city as Mayon Volcano continues its phreatic eruptions that started afternoon last Saturday, January 13.

With this development, Mayor Noel E. Rosal said Thursday he would ask the city tourism office to advice all the visitors who want to watch the lava fountaining not to enter the 6-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and extended the 2-km danger area at the foot of the volcano to protect them from any hazardous effect of volcanic activity.

The city chief executive also said in a statement that the Lignon Hill view deck park was one of the safer and exciting places for tourists who wanted to document the volcanic fireworks.

For those staying for the night, he recommended the Oriental Hotel in Barangay Taysan not only for their accommodation but also as a safe Mayon viewing place.

The Lignon Hill Nature Park is a 156-meter peak that serves as one of the Legazpi City’s most famous landmarks, offering a panoramic 360 degree view of the city, the nearby Daraga town, Albay Gulf and the Mayon Volcano.

Another recommended viewing place is the Embarcadero de Legazpi fronting the Albay Gulf at the base of Kapuntukan Hills which connects to the city’s southern boulevard. It is a four-kilometer stretch of concrete road that offers a cool and relaxing ambiance, and lined up on one side by many different restaurants.

Mount Mayon has a near perfect cone and considered as one of the most active volcanoes in the country. It started its abnormal activities on Saturday afternoon, spewing a cloud of smoke characteristic of phreatic eruption. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) then placed Mayon under Alert Level 2.

Spewing of ash was again observed twice on Sunday, prompting Phivolcs to place Mayon under Alert Level 3, less than 24 hours after raising Alert Level 2.

On Monday morning, lava dome collapse was observed, thus, thousands of villagers residing at the foot of Mt. Mayon were evacuated into safer grounds.

There are currently some 38,000 Albay residents housed temporarily in different schools in the cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Ligao and the towns of Camalig, Guinobatan, Daraga, Sto. Domingo and Malilipot, all in Albay province.

Phivolcs said Friday Alert Level 3 remains over Mayon and a hazardous eruption of the volcano is still possible in the next days or weeks.

Meanwhile, Mayor Rosal said he cancelled the Philippine Basketball Association game of Ginebra-NLEX Road Warriors, one of the sports events slated in the city this year, due to the continuous abnormal activities of the volcano.

"We want to protect the people including the visitors who want to spend their time (here) and see to it that they are all safe," he said.

Albay seeks gov't aid to support nearly 40k Mayon evacuees

By Rhaydz Barcia (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY -- The local government in Albay is appealing for help from the national government to support the almost 40,000 people temporarily staying in evacuation camps since Saturday due to the restiveness of Mayon Volcano.

Cedric Daep, chief of Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), said the province has insufficient funds to support the needs of the evacuees.

“We’re conducting a series of meetings and preparations to support the displaced families.

Unfortunately, there is no sufficient budget. We need the intervention of the national government,” Daep said Tuesday afternoon, even as Albay had been placed under a state of calamity.

The cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Ligao and the towns of Camalig, Guinobatan, Daraga, Sto. Domingo and Malilipot are affected by Mayon Volcano’s restiveness since Saturday.

Some 9,291 families or 37,739 people from 36 barangays fled their home as the volcano’s activity intensified. They are now housed in 391 classrooms in different schools in the affected areas.

The town of Camalig has the biggest number of evacuees with 1,946 families or 7,297 people; followed by Daraga with 1,189 families or an equivalent of 4,994 people; Guinobatan with 1,241 families or 4,353 persons; Malilipot with 773 families or 2,909 people and Sto. Domingo, 590 families or 2,770 persons.

Among the three cities of Albay, Legazpi has 2,610 families or 11,522 people evacuated followed by Ligao City with 429 families or 1,921 and Tabaco City with 513 families or 1,973 people.

The number of evacuees is expected to increase in the coming days, according to Daep.

Mayon Volcano is continuously exhibiting abnormalities and remains under Alert Level 3.

Ed Laguerta, chief volcanologist in Bicol said that its eruption was classified as vulcanian, associated with magmatic eruption.

He added that they are considering raising the alert level of Mayon from level 3 to level 4 once the needed parameters exhibited by the restive volcano are noted.

Due to pyroclastic flows and ash fall, Governor Al Francis Bichara ordered the municipalities of Camalig and Guinobatan and Ligao City to conduct localized suspension of classes in all levels in both public and private schools.

Meanwhile, an elderly from Barangay Buang, Tabaco City died of stroke inside the evacuation camp.

Daep said Teodolo Presia, 81, of Barangay Buang in Tabaco City died on Tuesday morning at the evacuation center in Mayon Elementary School.

“He’s an indirect casualty of Mayon Volcano,” he said.

For his part, Engr. Dante Baclao, provincial engineer of Albay, said that based on their monitoring of evacuation camps, water and sanitation including clogged toilets were the pressing issues that needed to be addressed to prevent diseases at the evacuation camps here.

The provincial health office has started water rationing in areas with big number of evacuees.

Mayon-affected LGUs urged to ensure safety, comfort of evacuees

By Connie Calipay (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY -- As the restiveness of Mt. Mayon continues to intensify due to lava flow down the Miisi and Bonga Gullies and lava collapse events, Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office head Cedric Daep reminded local government units (LGUs) to inventory school classrooms that are being used as evacuation camps of thousands of Albayanos.

"We want local officials affected by the Mayon eruption to assess the classrooms, water, toilet facilities - including solid and liquid waste disposal system, communal kitchen, medical station with provision for normal spontaneous delivery, breastfeeding corner and recreational space to ensure the comfortable condition of the evacuees in times like this," Daep said.

As of Tuesday morning, five towns and three cities of Albay have evacuated residents inside and within the periphery of the 6-km Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and 2-km extended danger zone.

The municipalities of Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Malilipot and Sto. Domingo and cities of Ligao, Tabaco and Legazpi evacuated more than 20,855 individuals or 5,339 families from 26 barangays.

Meanwhile, the Albay Provincial Health Office, in its advisory cautioned the public on the effect of volcanic ash - the powder-sized to sand-sized particles being blown into the air by the erupting volcano.

"Volcanic ash may cause health effects like; nose and throat irritation; coughing; bronchitis-like illness; discomfort while breathing; eye irritation; minor skin problems and injuries/death due to roof collapse or vehicular accidents resulting from slippery roads and poor visibility," the advisory read.

It advised the residents to "minimize exposure to ash, stay indoors as much as possible, keep doors and windows closed and keep home from infiltration by using damp curtains, blankets or clothing”.

“Use dust masks, wear goggles or eyeglasses to protect eyes from irritation, while pets must be kept in closed shelters, dampen ash in your yard to prevent it from billowing up into the air,” the advisory added.

Ed Laguerta, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) resident volcanologist, reported that quiet lava effusion from a new summit lava dome, flow down the Miisi and Bonga Gullies and lava collapse events characterized Mayon Volcano’s eruptive activity in the past 24 hours.

A total of nine episodes of tremor, four of which accompanied short-duration lava fountaining, and 75 lava collapse events, corresponding to rock fall along the front and margins of advancing lava and short pyroclastic flows downriver of Miisi Gully within the PDZ, were recorded by Mayon’s seismic network, Laguerta added.

Collapse events and some degassing at the summit crater generated ash that rose to two kilometers and fell on the barangays of Camalig, Guinobatan and Polangui.

Lava flow on the Miisi Gully has presently advanced to approximately two kilometers from the crater, while shorter volume lava flows have been emplaced on the upper slopes of the Bonga Gully.

DSWD-Bicol readies relief goods for Mayon-affected Albay towns

By Connie Calipay (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol regional office now has standby food packs and non-food items for the residents of towns in Albay province affected by the phreatic eruptions of Mayon Volcano that started Saturday afternoon.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology placed Mayon under Alert Level 3 on Sunday night due to its increased state of unrest.

Jesseshan Aycocho, DSWD-Bicol information officer, on Monday said that as of now, they have prepositioned goods for towns mostly affected by ash explosion.

Food packs will be distributed anytime upon request of concerned local government units mostly from the third district of Albay.

Each food pack consists of six kilos of rice, four cans of sardines, four cans of corned beef, six packs of noodles and cereal drinks.

For the non-food items, Aycocho said they have 34,363 pieces malong, 382 rolls of laminated sacks, 7,327 dignity kits and 52,853 blankets ready for augmentation to LGUs.

She added that the DSWD has adequate stockpile of commodities for 12,926 persons and standby funds for relief operations.

“The LGUs affected by the eruption just need to ask for augmentation if needed,” the DSWD official said.

Thousands evacuated as Phivolcs raises alert level over Mayon

By Connie Calipay (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY -- More than 3,000 residents living inside Mt. Mayon’s 6-km radius permanent danger zone (PDZ) started evacuating as early as Saturday evening until Sunday morning as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the volcano's alert level 1 to alert level 2 shortly after midnight Sunday.

Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara said there would be no exemption or extension of time for stubborn and defiant residents who would not go on voluntary evacuation.

In an advisory, Bichara reiterated the evacuation of residents inside and within the periphery of the 6-km PDZ.

"Strictly no farming and orchid picking inside the 6-km PDZ, residents within the slope of the volcano experiencing heavy ashfall should take precautionary measure against possible roof collapsed due to accumulated heavy ash and rain," the advisory said.

Phivolcs resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta said the "no man's land" zone should have long been free from any human activity.

For Sunday, Phivolcs recorded successive phreatic eruption at 8:49 a.m. Ashfall has been reported at the west and southwest slopes and another eruption at 10:50 a.m. that lasted for five minutes.

Another eruption occurred later around 11:43 a.m. - it lasted approximately 15 minutes based on seismic record.

LGUs with barangays within 6-km PDZ convened their respective Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils to discuss proactive actions to be taken by these local government units in case the situation escalates.

Phivolcs: Alert level 2 up over Mayon Volcano

By Connie Calipay (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY -- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised Mayon Volcano’s alert level status from 1 to level 2 shortly after midnight Sunday after it spewed ash due to unexpected phreatic eruption during heavy rains Saturday afternoon.

Monitoring by Phivolcs’ instruments recorded another phreatic explosion at 8:49 a.m. Sunday that lasted 5 minutes and 4 seconds and recorded continuing rockfalls at the southeastern quadrant of Mayon Volcano, according to Eduardo Laguerta, Phivolcs resident volcanologist at the Lignon Hill observatory here.

He said these parameters prompted the raising of the alert level from 1, which means abnormal, to level 2, which in Phivolcs’ terms means “increasing unrest".

Laguerta, added the increasing unrest detected by the agency’s instruments with ash plume in grayish color spewed this morning follows the south west direction of the wind blowing within the province of Albay.”

Phivolcs, in its advisory, reiterated that the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is a no-entry zone to the public because of the perennial danger of life-threatening rockfalls, avalanches, ash puffs and sudden phreatic or steam-driven eruptions.

Based on seismic records, the activity started around 4:21 Saturday afternoon and lasted 1 hour and 47 minutes.

Traces of ash fell on Barangay Anoling in Daraga; Barangay Sua, Quirangay, Tumpa, Ilawod and Salungan of Camalig and in Barangay Tandarora, Maninila and Travesia in Guinobatan.

Faint crater glow has been first observed at 10:16 p.m. Saturday.

Meanwhile, Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) head Cedric Daep reminded the communities on the western and southern flanks downwind of Mayon crater should cover their nose and mouth with damp, clean cloth or dust mask.

Civil aviations authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcanos summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.

"Based on the seasonal pattern, ash fall event may most likely occur on the southwest side of the volcano", Daep said.

Mayon spews ash; evacuation ordered

By Mike Dela Rama (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY -- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) is closely monitoring the behavior of Mayon Volcano after it spewed ash due to unexpected phreatic eruption during heavy rains Saturday afternoon.

Cedric Daep, Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) chief, said evacuation of residents in Barangay Quirangay, parts of Guinobatan and Ligao City has started.

Automatic evacuation of residents from other areas from the six-kilometer danger zones such Camalig and Daraga were also ordered due to ashfall.

"It is hard today for us to collect data, especially ashes because of heavy rains,” Daep said.

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum Jr said the phreatic eruption is ongoing and the plume height of an estimated three kilometers and direction is bent towards southwest directions of the province of Albay due to strong winds.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council activated all its municipal counterparts, especially in the third district of Albay province, the most affected by volcanic activity.

Mayors Arhdail Baldo of Camalig and Gemma Onjoco of Guinobatan have directed all barangay officials to alert their constituents and take necessary precautions.

Phreatic eruption is a steam-driven explosion when water underground or surface water is heated by magma, hot rocks, lava or new volcanic deposits.

Albay honors fallen son who served in Marawi

By Niño N. Luces

Legazpi City, Albay – The remains of Philippine Marines Pvt. Alejandro A. Balaen, who sacrificed his life to liberate Marawi City from terrorists, arrived to a hero’s welcome in Sto. Domingo, Albay Friday morning.

Relatives, friends, neighbors and local officials were on hand to welcome his remains in Barangay Lidong.

Pvt. Balean, 27, the youngest of 7 siblings, is a member of 7th Marine Company of the Marine Landing Team 7, was killed in action on June 9, 2017.

His elder sister is a 2nd Lieutenant of the Philippine Army, while his only brother is also enlisted with the Philippine Army.

Two of his sisters are teachers.

He completed his elementary education at Lidong Elementary School, went to Pagasa National High School Extension in Legazpi City and graduated with a hotel and restaurant management degree in Legazpi City.

The remains of Balean arrived Friday morning from Philippine Marines Headquarter in Taguig City, after a full military honor last January 9.

According to his sister, her fallen brother joined the Philippine Marines last August 2016 and was deployed in Marawi City which was attacked by the Maute Group in May 2017.

During a skirmish on June 9, a bomb explosion killed the Bicolano soldier.

Due to heavy fighting, however, his body was not immediately retrieved.

His body was recovered by August.

A series of DNA tests were conducted to confirm that the recovered body was that of Pvt. Bayaen.

Early this year, his body was flown to Manila and brought to the Philippine Marines Headquarters and accorded full military honors.

Legazpi to purchase dredging equipment

By Emmanuel Solis (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY -- The city government here will purchase heavy equipment to be used for the desilting and year-round maintenance of all the river channels, including those in interior villages.

Mayor Noel E. Rosal, in a phone interview Tuesday, said the maintenance of the rivers would be included in the city administration’s solid waste management program.

He said the rivers must be prevented from clogging due to the improper waste disposal by households, causing flooding, particularly during typhoon and rainy seasons.

The city chief executive revealed that he would ask the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and the Liga ng mga Barangay to remind eco-waste managers, including garbage collectors and scavengers, regarding the proper implementation of the city’s "no segregation, no collection" policy.

"Disposing waste materials is everybody’s responsibility. We need the cooperation of every household in the barangay. We need the cooperation of the business sector. We need the cooperation of schools and other stakeholders for the implementation of the city’s waste disposal program in order to maintain the cleanliness of our surroundings and also to prevent the contamination and clogging of our rivers," Rosal pointed out.

He said he would urge the CENRO to conduct regular monitoring in different villages to prevent the disposal of waste materials.

The CENRO should also conduct an orientation seminar for all the business establishments operating in Legazpi as part of their compliance with City Ordinance ‎0010-2008, which requires business operators to undergo Ecological Solid Waste Management Program symposiums, according to Rosal.

He said the certificate of attendance in these seminars would be used to acquire barangay clearance as part of the requirements for renewing business permits.

Any small business owner who violates this ordinance will have to pay a penalty of PHP300 for the first offense; PHP500 for second offense; and PHP1,000 for the third offense.

On the other hand, commercial and industrial-scale business owners who violate this ordinance have to pay a fine of PHP1,000 for the first offense; PHP2,000 for the second offense; and PHP3,000 for the third offense.

Rosal said he would request the City Council to adopt a resolution or enact an ordinance for higher penalties for all the violators of the city’s waste disposal ordinances, including illegal settlers who will construct any form of infrastructure near the rivers.

Plane carrying BSP personnel makes emergency landing in Albay

By Mar Serrano (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY -- A private plane carrying at least six personnel of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) made an emergency landing on Wednesday at the runway of the Bicol International Airport (BIA) in Barangay Alobo, Daraga town in Albay, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said.

Erick Apolonio, CAAP spokesperson, in a phone interview, said all the six passengers are safe.

Police Chief Insp. Arthur Gomez, PNP Albay spokesperson, said the incident occured around 12:30 a.m. when a Gulfstream G200 carrying the BSP personnel lost control after being hit by sudden strong wind. The pilot then decided to land at the BIA runway.

Gomez identified the plane pilot as Capt. Jun Pangilinan, who, during initial investigation, refused to reveal details of the emergency landing, citing confidentiality. Pangilinan added that the full report would be submitted to their superior.

Apolonio, when asked of the possible cause of the emergency landing, said the CAAP will still conduct an investigation into it.

Marlyn Paje, BSP Deputy Director, in a statement issued to PNA said, "The plane is not BSP's but chartered by the bank to bring important documents in the branch. It is actually a confidential mission, hence I can't disclose much information."

The plane was reportedly about to land at the Legazpi Domestic Airport when, due to the sudden wind drop that hit the aircraft, the pilot decided to land at the 2.5-kilometer runway which is still undergoing construction.

Congress to expedite Department of Disaster Resilience measure

By Johnny C. Nuñez (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY -- Congress will likely prioritize and expedite the passage of the pending bill that seeks to create the proposed Department of Disaster Resilience (DRR), a well structured agency designed to manage a broad climate-disaster program of governance as the country confronts more and more calamities of greater frequency and magnitude.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, who authored the principal DRR bill (House Bill 6075), said that “now more than ever, we feel the need to create a super government agency, seeing the devastations around us every time disasters strike.” He said the new agency would be “tasked to carry out a continuous, consistent and fortified calamity defense program and ensure the country’s sustainable development and inclusive growth.”

The Philippines marked the first day of 2018 with typhoon Agaton affecting Mindanao.

A total of 22 calamitous weather disturbances, aside from man-made disasters, ravaged the country in 2017, claimed hundreds of lives, and damaged crops, properties and infrastructures worth billions of pesos.

Tropical storms Urduja and Vinta hit Visayas and Mindanao in December 2017 in close succession with deadly results; flashfloods and landslides, more than 200 casualties and thousands of evacuees, and costly damages.

Salceda explained that to face the onslaught of disasters, the country needs “strategic and systematic approaches to disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and the effective programs on rehabilitation and recovery” handled by an agency with its own mandate.

He heads the technical working group tasked to consolidate the 43 related legislative proposals on disaster response in the Lower House similar to his House Bill 6075. He said a really strong disaster agency is “essential to a sensible economic blueprint and since disastrous typhoons were noted to have been getting stronger and broader in impact in recent years, the creation of the DDR is an urgent agenda of Congress.”

The country’s situation, he said, was critical since the Philippines ranks third among 171 countries worldwide considered “most exposed and vulnerable to natural calamities,” and was listed as 13th in the Climate Change Vulnerability Index.

Almost 74 percent of the country’s population and 80 percent of its land area had been identified as vulnerable to disasters with Manila marked as “in extreme risk,” added Salceda.

With an initial budget of PHP10 billion, the agency will be accountable and responsible for overseeing, coordinating and implementing a comprehensive disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management programs and redirecting policy drifts among other agencies handling such tasks.

Salceda’s proposed DDR aims to take in at least four government entities critical to an effective disaster planning and operation -the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology or Phivolcs under the Department of Science and Technology; the Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and the Bureau of Fire Protection under DILG.

He said the idea was akin to US Department of Homeland Security that had under its operational control major federal agencies to effectively confront security issues and threats in many areas.

Salceda said HB 6075 was a result of “action research, sharing of experiences and dynamic discussions among various stakeholders from national and local government agencies, organizations and communities and is a product of comparable international experiences.”

The bill also seeks to amend the eight-year-old RA 10121, which created the National Disaster Risk and Reduction Framework, a landmark legislation but fell short in creating “an institution that is sufficiently in a high position to oversee the implementation of streamlined disaster risk reduction and management policies nationwide. It will have the necessary authority, mandate and resources to lead and coordinate efforts of various stakeholders towards a more resilient nation.”

Under the concept, the DRR will be separate from the Office of Civil Defense, which will continue to perform its original mandate particularly its duty to administer a comprehensive national civil defense and civil assistance program, training of community volunteers for civil defense and assistance, and other mechanisms for community preparedness.

Mayor wants DPWH to assess Legazpi’s P2.1-B flood control project

By Emmanuel Solis

LEGAZPI CITY --- The city government here has requested for a technical conference with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regarding the PHP2.1-billion flood control project that was completed last year after the city experienced huge floods recently.

Mayor Noel E. Rosal, in an interview Monday, said he will ask Secretary Mark Villar on the design of the city’s urban drainage system and request DPWH to inspect the project after the city’s central business district and other low-lying areas went under water after episodes of heavy downpour last December 29 and January 3.

The Php2.1-billion Legazpi City Urban Drainage System was considered as a mega flood control project implemented by the DPWH and funded by the national government. It included the installation of three pumping stations designed to address the perennial flooding problems in the city.

Also part of the project was the rehabilitation and widening of canals in the main thoroughfare which removed the old type culvert canals and replaced it with the new wide box type canals. It also involved the improvement and construction of flood control dikes, drainage system and sea walls.

The three giant pumping stations were installed in the villages of San Roque, Bay-bay and Victory, patterned after a project of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with a capacity of throwing out three cubic meters of flood waters per second.

Rosal said Legazpi again experienced inundation despite the completion of the flood control project because the major river channels were silted and the drainage canals were clogged by huge volume garbage due to the improper waste disposal of households in the villages.

The three pumping stations were all operational but the problem was the water elevation at the pump flood gates have reached only 0.4 cubic meters while the pumping facilities needed between 1.3 and 1.8 cubic meters of water elevation to start operation, the mayor added, thus the need for DPWH to assess the project. (PNA)

Albay SP approves measures for Mayon protection

By Manly M. Ugalde

LEGAZPI CITY – The probe conducted by the Albay Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Urban Housing and Land Use concerning the assailed construction of the Mayon circumferential road got a unanimous vote of approval to adopt the laws governing the preservation and protection of the protected areas at the world-most perfect-cone Mayon Volcano.

In addition, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan also recommended that any proposed projects around Mayon by the DPWH or any agencies shall first obtain clearances from Phivolcs, DENR, DOT, Albay Tourism Office, and the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office, according to Board Member Howard Imperial, chair Committee on Urban Housing and Land Use that investigated the Mayon scandal

But the Save Mayon Movement (SMM) described the probe recommendation as weak or wishy-washy designed not to damage political figures behind the funding and hasty implementation of the initial P125 million Mayon road opening projects slammed by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Albayanos through the social media.

The barely unheard Mayon alternate circumferential project was started by the Department of Public Works and Highways Albay 1st District Engineering in June sans any clearance or knowledge from Phivolcs and permits from DENR such as the mandatory cutting permit and Environmental Clearance Certificate. The project came to public knowledge only after it was exposed in the social media early in October.

A Cease and Desist Order have been issued by the DENR claiming it had also recovered close to 9,000 board feet of cut trees and logs in the project sites found to have encroached the Mayon Protected Area.

SMM claimed the project is the jump-start of the estimated P7 billion alternate circumferential road around Mayon measuring 264-kilometers in diameter.

Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe of Ako Bicol in many radio interviews backed the project as eco-tourism and infra-development that would strongly promote tourism with Mt. Mayon appearing at night like a Christmas tree.

But DPWH officials refused to call the project as Mayon circumferential road. District Engineer Simon Arias of Albay 1st District Engineering told the media that what his office is constructing are simply farmed to market roads saying he’s not aware of any proposed Mayon circumferential road. The four road opening projects horizontal in nature started at the village of Barangay Bonga (P50 M) Bacacay town, Barangay San Roque (P10 M), Malilipot town, Barangay Magapo P25 M) Tabaco City, (Barangay Buang (P40.5 M) Tabaco City.

Imperial said documents furnished his committee by DPWH regional legal officer Oliver Rodulfo, however, did not mention any “road opening” projects at Mayon. He said that the name of projects in the documents his committee received listed the four projects as the “construction of Mayon Eco-Park (P50 M), San Roque Road Improvement (P10 M), Construction of Mayon Eco Road Magapo section (P25 M), Tabaco City, and Construction of Missing Gaps P(40.5 M), Tabaco.

Phivolcs and DENR worry that the project may only worsen flooding in the lowland.

The Department of Tourism also issued a statement that the Mayon road construction was not part of the Tourism Infrastructure Priority projects.

Earlier, the SP Committee on Environment chaired by Job Belen also conducted its own probe about the Mayon project. SMM founding member Cesar Banares strongly criticized the committee findings as too weak for consideration. Banares said SMM have been receiving feedbacks from Filipinos in foreign countries expressing surprise about the Mayon construction that would only destroy the natural beauty of Mayon God had given us.

According to Imperial, his unanimously approved resolution would not and has not recognized any proposed construction activities at Mayon saying preservation of the protected areas and Mayon as a whole should stay. He said the Mayon 6-km PDZ declared as “no man’s land” should be completely free from any human activity adding while the government is spending money to relocate residents around Mayon in resettlement areas, road constructions in the volcano would only invite inhabitants and destroy the resettlement efforts.

Imperial also cited that the United Nation’s Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) has already included Mayon for inclusion in the Book of World Heritage for 2018 and any infrastructure activity in the volcano may only affect that application.

Phivolcs Mayon resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta said that in many cases, Mayon residents outside the no man’s land 6-km PDZ and within the within the 8-kilometer danger zone are forcibly included in the evacuation depending on the gravity of Mayon eruption. Laguerta reminded Albayanos about the 1993 major Mayon eruption that occurred lunch period under a perfect weather condition which killed more than 80 farmers at the Legazpi barangay Mabinit. Some of the casualties were children who skipped classes to join their parents in harvesting crops. He said the 1993 eruption did not show any signs of Mayon abnormality.

Board member Imperial said his committee will also asked the DPWH to furnish his committee the program of works and plans concerning the four road opening projects to find out whether the DPWH have ever conducted validation of the projects and how it was hastily implemented without the mandatory permits. He said his office has received reports the projects were already paid some 30 percent.

The Imperial initiated probe of the Mayon scandal was initially treated with a cold reception from the SP members until four SP members surfaced indicating their support for the separate probe. It was a surprised the result during the held session last week was unanimous for the protection of Mayon, said retired banker and former president of the Albay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Marcial Tuanqui.

‘Agaton’ triggers floods, landslides in Bicol; flights suspended

By Connie Calipay and Mar Serrano (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY -- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol said Wednesday heavy rains spawned by Tropical Depression “Agaton" led to the suspension of classes, cancellation of flights and the evacuation of hundreds of people living in flood and landslide-prone areas across the Bicol peninsula.

OCD Regional Director Claudio Yucot said as of 12 noon Wednesday, floods were reported in various towns in the provinces of Sorsogon and Camarines Sur, while landslides hit road networks in Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay and Camarines Sur.

At least 435 families were evacuated due to floods in Sorsogon (419) and in Camarines Sur (16).

Floods were also reported in the towns of Buhi, Bato, Lupi in Camarines Sur and in Irosin, Castilla, Casiguran, Magallanes, Bulusan and Barcelona in Sorsogon.

Yucot, moreover, said Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific suspended flights from Legazpi to Manila.

Likewise, classes in all levels were suspended in the provinces of Catanduanes and Camarines Sur while local suspension of classes was ordered in the 12 towns of Sorsogon province as well as in Sorsogon City.

As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, six local government units in Albay suspended classes. These are the municipalities of Daraga; Sto. Domingo; Polangui and Manito and the cities of Legazpi and Tabaco City.

In Catanduanes, Governor Joseph Cua ordered the suspension of classes in all levels as a precautionary measure in view of heightened risks to the students’ health, safety and welfare.

The governor also directed the 11 Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (MDRRMCs) to be prepared to carry out their respective disaster risk and reduction plans focused on flood, wind, landslide and storm surge-prone areas of the province and to conduct an inventory of the number of vulnerable population groups that need to be evacuated once the weather situation worsens.

The local weather station has forecast continuous heavy rainfall in the Bicol region due to Agaton.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Wednesday announced that a landslide hit at least five major road networks in the towns of Viga, Caramoran and Gigmoto in Catanduanes.

Lucy Castaneda, DPWH-Bicol spokesperson, in an interview, said the affected roads are not passable to all types of vehicles as landslide debris covered the two-lane road in these areas.

She said the affected road networks are the Catanduanes Circumferential Road in Barangay Summit in Viga; Barangay Giamlong in Caramoran; and the Baras-Gigmoto-Viga Road in Barangays Dororan and Biong in Gigmoto town.

64% drop in firecracker injuries seen in Bicol

By Mar Serrano (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY -- At least 49 people, including 24 children, sustained injuries due to firecrackers, the Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol said Tuesday.

DOH sentinels reported that these victims were rushed to various hospitals in the region on December 26, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

The DOH also recorded two wounded victims of stray bullets in Camarines Norte.

The DOH’s Action Paputok Injury Reduction (APIR) unit said the number of victims is 64 percent lower than the 77 cases recorded last year.

Jaime Guerrero, DOH APIR program coordinator, in an interview said that 49 percent of the victims were minors with ages ranging from 6-12 with “Piccolo” as the leading injury-causing firecracker.

He said Albay remained at the top with 27 cases followed by Camarines Sur-12, Camarines Norte-6, Sorsogon -2, Masbate 2, and Catanduanes -0.

As of 6 a.m. Monday, the health department in Bicol said all of the victims were “active igniters” of firecrackers. Out of the total number of those injured, 44 were males and five were females.

Aside from Piccolo other products banned are firecrackers with large amount of explosive powder contents like the Goodbye Philippines, Bin Laden, Atomic Triangulo,Super Bawang, Super Lolo, and 5-Star.

DPWH-Bicol is certified smoke free establishment

(Bicol Standard)

The Local Government Unit of Legazpi City, Albay has certified the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bicol Regional Office (DPWH Region 5) as 100 percent Smoke-Free Establishment.

The certification signed by Mayor Noel E. Rosal, Chairperson of Smoke-Free Legazpi City, was received by DPWH Region 5 Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Flocerpida B. Azotea in a ceremony held recently at Kenzon Function Hall, Legazpi City.

In his message at the DPWH flag raising ceremony, Regional Director Danilo E. Versola expressed his sincerest gratitude to the DPWH workforce, particularly the male officials and employees for their cooperation in making DPWH Region 5 Office a smoke-free zone.

“For an office like DPWH which is dominated in numbers by male employees, the no-smoking policy is a huge challenge,” added Director Versola.

The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Legazpi City issued City Ordinance No. 0007-2009 as part of the initiative to enact anti-smoking laws in accordance with Article 2, Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution that mandates the state to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.

Legazpi City Ordinance No. 0007-2009 aims to regulate and promote a healthful environment and protect the citizens, especially the youth, from the hazards of tobacco and, at the same time, ensure that the interests of others are not adversely compromised.

To ensure strict compliance to this policy, Mayor Rosal formed an enforcement team called the Legazpi City Smoke-Free Unit. The unit has 459 deputized agents who shall apprehend persons who will violate the ordinance within the City’s jurisdiction.

The giving of awards and certification to deserving private and government establishments is part of Legazpi City’s intensified awareness campaign to promote a clean and healthy environment in workplaces.

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