Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 13) — Local officials in Albay are asking the national government to assist them in terms of providing alternative livelihood for affected residents as Mt. Mayon remains under Alert Level 3.
“We need long-term plans, kailangan talaga natin ng mga livelihood programs para sa mga evacuees,” Santo Domingo Mayor Joseling Aguas Jr. told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Tuesday.
[Translation: We need long-term plans, we need livelihood programs for the evacuees.]
Meanwhile, Camalig Mayor Carlos Irwin Baldo said since residents who have unharvested crops cannot return to their farms, the government can come in by holding trainings in evacuation centers through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
The Labor department can also extend its emergency employment program TUPAD to affected locals, he added.
Alert Level 3 status is still up in Mayon Volcano due to \”magmatic unrest,\” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in its 24-hour observation report.
Phivolcs resident volcanologist Paul Alanis told CNN Philippines that they have yet to see signs that will lead to the raising of the alert level status.
The Philippine National Police said more than 14,000 people were evacuated from the six-kilometer danger zone of Mayon. Up to 25,000 individuals will be moved to safer grounds if this will be extended to seven kilometers and Alert Level 4 is raised, authorities said.
RELATED: Thousands more residents to be evacuated if Mayon danger zone is extended, mayors say
For now, Aguas said their supplies of food packs and other essentials are enough.
In Camalig, Baldo said they are in need of more restroom portals. The Department of Health and the Office of Civil Defense has committed to provide assistance regarding this, he said.
