Despite the on-going activities of Mayon volcano in Albay, more than 5,000 evacuees from the municipality of Sto. Domingo are now allowed to decamp after staying for three months in the evacuation centers since June.
According to the local government of Sto. Domingo, the issued advise for decampment is based from their Mayon monitoring from the past 2 weeks of activity.
In an interview with Bicoldotph, Azucena Binamira, 71, resident of Brgy. San Fernando, a community near the permanent danger zone (PDZ), she is still scared to go back home despite the issued announcement of decampment.
“Dakula ang kahaditan ko dahil ang alert level dae pa man (ibinababa). Syempre dae ta aram kung pakusog o paluway ito. Syempre pag yaun na kami sa residente mi, harani kami sa danger zone,” she said.
(TRANS: I am still scared because the alert level of the volcano is not yet lowered. Of course we don’t know if this indicates that it will be stronger or weaker. If we will go home to our community, we’re near the danger zone.)
Meanwhile, according to Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), the voluntary decampment is advised for those outside the 6-km PDZZ with a joint advisory from the LGU.
“Ang advisory mi population sa 6 kilometers lang, ang nag-uuruli su nasa luwas kang six ta ang nasa luwas kang six dapat magebakwar sa alert level 4,” Cedric Daep from Albay PDRRMO said.
(TRANS: Our advisory is for the 6-kilometer population. Those evacuees who go home to their residence outside the 6-km PDZ shall evacuate if alert level 4 will be raised.)
Before the decampment, evacuees and barangay captains were gathered by Sto. Domingo Mayor Jun Aguas to clarify questions related to the said decampment activities.
Groceries such as rice and other food supplies were also distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to the evacuees. | Danica Roselyn Lim, Neffateri Dela Cruz
