QUEZON CITY (PIA) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is closely monitoring updates on the situation in Albay, Bicol Region after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised its alert level of Mayon Volcano from Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest) to Alert Level 3 (increasing tendency towards a hazardous eruption) due to an increase in the volume and frequency of rockfall events.

DA Bicol Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla has activated the Mayon Quick Response Team and designated the Albay Breeding Station (ABS) in Cabangan, Camalig, Albay as Livestock Evacuation Center. 

The Agri department has also been continuously coordinating with concerned Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) to monitor the situation on the ground.

After the alert level was raised, DA has undertaken several actions including the following:

1. Advising farmers and livestock raisers within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone to secure farm equipment and machinery and evacuate their animals to safer areas; 
2. Prepositioning of hauling trucks at Tabaco City and Camalig, Albay Research Outreach Stations; and
3. Updating of seed reserves for rice, corn, and vegetables.

Animals can be sheltered at Local Government Unit-designated animal evacuation centers in Muladbucad Grande, Pequeño, and Masarawag in Guinobatan; and Nasisi in Ligao City.

Aside from these initiatives, farmers are also advised to harvest all crops that are harvestable with the assistance of nine Rice Combine Harvesters previously distributed by DA Bicol to farmers’ cooperatives and associations in Albay. Affected farmers are also suggested to avail of the services of the three Rice Processing Centers (RPC) established in Balinad and Balangibang in Polangui and Maporong, Oas, Albay.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is on the ground and has already conducted preparedness and coordination conferences with other government agencies including Department of Health, PHIVOLCS and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources due to Mayon’s rising alert levels and unrest in Bicol. (MVMV, PIA-CPSD) 

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Photos from Department of Agriculture-Bicol