Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) — Amid Mayon Volcano’s continued unrest, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos urged residents evacuated from the permanent danger zone (PDZ) to avoid returning to their homes “for their own safety.”
Abalos said numerous chokepoints have been established around the volcano to prevent people from reentering the danger zone.
“[Sa] paligid ng Mayon, merong mga chokepoints ‘yan para wala nang makakabalik… Importante ngayon ay chokepoints para ‘wag mapunta sa danger zone,” Abalos told reporters in Albay on Monday.
[Translation: Around Mayon, there are chokepoints to prevent people from going back… Chokepoints are important now so people would not end up in the danger zone.]
“For their own safety. Lava ‘yan, eh. Hindi biro ‘yan, eh. Buhay niyo ‘to, buhay ng pamilya niyo. Sana po sumunod tayo sa owtoridad [That’s lava. That’s no joke. It’s your life, your family’s life. Please obey the authorities],” he added.
Chokepoints refer to strategic narrow routes that are usually guarded by law enforcers, while the PDZ is the area at risk for lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards.
According to latest data from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, over 14,000 residents have so far been evacuated from the six-kilometer permanent danger zone around Mayon Volcano, which is under Alert Level 3 due to signs of an increased tendency towards “hazardous” eruption.
Albay readies residents in 7-km extended danger zone
With the increasing unrest of Mayon Volcano, the provincial government of Albay on Monday also placed residents inside the seven-kilometer extended danger zone under a preparedness status.
\”Evacuation will be executed anytime,\” Albay’s disaster management officials said in an advisory, explaining that the government aims to sustain zero casualties should the volcano erupt.
READ: Marcos: Gov’t ready for possible Mayon eruption
