Decamped Mayon evacuees to get relief goods, livelihood aid

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines —The government will continue to extend assistance to residents within Mayon Volcano’s extended danger zone who were allowed to return to their homes.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will continue to give food items while the Department of Agriculture will provide livelihood assistance to “economically dislocated farmers,” Mayon crisis manager Francis Tolentino told a briefing at Camp Simeon Ola yesterday.

Tolentino gave the assurance after Cedric Daep, Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo) chief, reported that farmers who decamped might sneak into the six-kilometer permanent danger zone to till their farms or graze their animals.

DSWD-Bicol director Arnel Garcia said there are enough food and non-food items for distribution to these farmers.

“We are asking our local officials to provide us with the list of farmers whose sources of livelihood are within Mayon’s permanent danger zone,” Garcia said.

Tolentino said evacuees from Ligao and Bacacay have returned to their homes. He said decamping of residents of Sto. Domingo, Legazpi and Tabaco, which was ongoing yesterday, is expected to be completed tomorrow.

Lahar intervention plan

He said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Office of Civil Defense and Apsemo should complete their lahar emergency intervention plan in two weeks.

The towns of Sto. Domingo, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Bacacay, Malilipot, Domingo and the cities of Tabaco, Legazpi and Ligao are at risk for lahar, officials said.

Tolentino said the DSWD would preposition relief goods for families in these areas.– Celso Amo

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