Bad weather drives Pinatubo workers away

Heavy rains forced Aeta tribesmen yesterday to temporarily abandon a dangerous mission atop Mount Pinatubo, where they were to try to drain a crater lake to save their villages in Botolan, Zambales from possible flash floods, an official said.

The eight tribesmen, accompanied by two government engineers and 11 porters, began their work Friday after slaughtering a pig and pouring a bottle of gin on the crater in an ancient ritual to seek protection from the volcano god.

Botolan Mayor Rogelio Yap said he asked the workers to descend the volcano and return home after they reported by two-way radio that a portion of the crater rim where they were encamped was being eroded by strong winds and rain.

"They could not work because the area is caving in because of the continuous rain," Yap said. "I cannot sacrifice the safety of these people."

The group climbed the volcano Thursday, carrying picks, shovels, two wheelbarrows, provisions and camping gear. After reaching the peak, they crossed the lake on a rubber dinghy to reach the Maraunot notch, the lowest point in Pinatubo’s jagged crater rim.

Before bad weather forced them to stop work, the workers surveyed and marked the spot where they plan to dig a canal to drain the lake, Yap said.

Authorities plan to field 100 more workers to finish the job in at least three weeks. — Ding Cervantes