Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 10) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. may visit the province anytime soon in the wake of Mayon Volcano’s increasing unrest, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said on Saturday.
In a media briefing in Albay, Gatchalian said the president has been closely monitoring the situation. When asked if there are plans for Marcos to personally visit the province, the Department of Social Welfare and Development chief said he will not be be surprised if Marcos “just flies in anytime.”
“The president used to be a local chief executive, and he’s very hands-on when it comes to running the government, more so during calamities like this,” Gatchalian said.
“So ‘di ako magugulat kung mamaya kaunti makita mo na ‘yung eroplano ng presidente at nandyan na siya [So, I won’t be surprised if we see his airplane and he arrives in no time],” he added.
According to Albay police, the president was scheduled to travel to the province on June 14, but the visit was postponed due to the raising of Alert Level 3 over Mayon Volcano on Thursday.
Police said they were told by the Presidential Management Staff and the Presidential Security Group to instead focus their efforts on helping evacuate residents.
On Friday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the activity being observed in the volcano is already considered an eruption. Later in the afternoon, the local government of Albay placed the province under a state of calamity.
In a social media post, Marcos urged the people of Albay to follow the orders of local authorities.
“Sa pagsasailalim sa probinsya ng Albay sa state of calamity dahil sa pag-aalburoto ng Bulkang Mayon, pinapaalalahanan ang ating mga kababayang Bikolano na sumunod lamang sa mga rekomendasyon at evacuation instructions ng inyong lokal na pamahalaan upang masiguro ang kaligtasan ng bawat isa,” he said.
[Translation: With the declaration of a state of calamity in Albay due to Mayon Volcano’s increased activity, Bicolanos are reminded to follow the recommendation and evacuation instructions of their local government to ensure everyone’s safety.]
In an update at around 10 a.m. on Saturday, Phivolcs said the Mayon Volcano Network has recorded a total of 59 rockfall events in the last 24-hour period, and a total of 579 since June 1.
