BY NIÑO LUCES
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay -- The town of Sto. Domingo in this province is preparing for a possible eruption of Mayon Volcano after authorities raised the alert level from 1 to 2 on Monday morning, June 5.
Mayor Jun Aguas said that Mayon-unit barangay risk reduction and management councils (BDRRMCs) and other concerned LGUs will convene for preparation, evacuation and execution of the plan in case the volcano erupts.
A photo of Mayon Volcano with crater glow was taken by Erickson Balderama in Sto. Domingo town around 4:40 a.m. on Tuesday. Balderama said that the photo is a long exposure shot using 800 telephoto scope. (Photo by Erickson Balderama)
Mayor Aguas said that part of their action plan is to issue advisories on the current status of the volcano and prohibit entrance or human activity inside the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ).
The local government will also establish a Mayon Volcano response cluster approach through an executive order.
The LOGU is also set to activate BDRRMCs and MDRRMC for alert preparedness and monitoring status and at the same time conduct inventory of BDRRMC and MDRRMC resources and rescue equipment.
Mayor Aguas said the province is now in the process of identifying the evacuation areas for the affected residents, and readying the needed materials and lifelines.
In their action plan, prepositioning of basic emergency supplies; establishing agreement with the transport sector for evacuation purposes and monitoring of affected communities are being done.
Paul Alanis, resident volcanologist of Phivolcs here, said that phreatic eruption may occur but there is a small chance of having a big eruption.
As of 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Phivolcs recorded at least 74 rockfall events at the crater of Mayon Volcano. Other parameters such as sulfur emission are above average and the slope of Mayon is inflated.
