Clarified
Lagman noted that those who voluntarily decamped remain under ‘’evacuee status.’’
‘’This means that all of them will still be receiving the same kind of assistance such as food packs, vegetable rations, free medical care, livelihood and training programs and all “ayuda” [aid] coming from both the local and national government that evacuees are entitled to,’’ Lagman said.
‘’I am very thankful to the governor because even though they have returned to their homes, their status is still considered evacuees meaning they can still claim the benefits which is very good,’’ Aguas said in vernacular.
Thirty percent (30 %) of evacuees in Sto. Domingo already decamped, Lagman announced.
‘’Before the meeting the Gov. said that we will not force the evacuees to decamp. This is purely voluntary, for those who want [to decamp] we will assist them,’’ Aguas said.
''This is just a way to decongest the evacuation centers and of course because the comfort in ttheir home is still diffirent. Of course it is their judgement call if they feel safe (or unsafe) in their area,'' he added.
Evacuees stay
Meanwhile, there will be no decampment of evacuees outside the Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) in Guinobatan.
‘’The exercise of [Guinobatan Mayor Paul Chino Garcia] his executive discretion was reasonable citing the topography of residential areas outside the PDZ whose residents he evacuated as they were exposed to real danger,’’ Lagman said.
Lagman highlighted that Garcia’s decision of evacuating the residents outside the PDZ was justified because its two barangays are in between the two gullies of Mayon, which increases the risks for affected residents.
He urged the local government chief executive to comply with the minimum and consensus building standards.
‘’This will prevent confusion when they decide to undertake evacuation protocols which are different from those endorsed by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS),’’ Lagman noted.
Based on the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) monitoring report as of Wed. June 21, a total of 5,708 families or 19,959 were evacuated from the cities of Ligao and Tabaco and municipalities of Malilipot, Sto. Domingo, Daraga, Camalig, and Guinobatan. There have been no documented cases of evacuees originating from Legazpi City and the municipality of Bacacay, Albay.
On Thursday, June 22, PHIVOLCS has recorded 299 rockfall events and eight (8) dome collapse; 574 tonnes of sulfur dioxide flux a day on June 21, very slow effusion of lava flow with 2.5km and 1.8km and 3.3km lava collapse from the crater along the Mi-isi and Bonga Gullies of Mayon Volcano. (PIA5/Albay)
Cover photo courtesy of: Mayor Jun Aguas
