Adjacent provinces, gov’t agencies send aid to ashfall-hit areas

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- Neighboring provinces have extended assistance to residents affected by massive ashfall from Mayon Volcano, which hit the municipalities of Guinobatan and Camalig in Albay province.

Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo) chief Oscar Robert Cristobal on Tuesday said that assistance from national and regional government agencies has also been arriving to address the widespread impact of the ashfall.

“The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) immediately provided food packs, while the provincial governments of Sorsogon and Masbate sent water trucks, lorry trucks, filtration machines and food packs. These are needed in affected communities,” Cristobal said.

He said the extent of ashfall damage requires sustained support.

“The scope of damage is large, and we need all the help we can get,” Cristobal said, as he expressed gratitude to national agencies, including the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), for their immediate response.

“We thank the President for the swift action. Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon was here, and the DSWD responded quickly. Our PNP and BFP personnel were among the first on the ground,” he added.

Sorsogon province delivered 5,000 food packs to the barangays (villages) of Bubulusan, Doña Tomasa, Inascan, Masarawag, Muladbucad Grande, Muladbucad Pequeño, and San Jose in Guinobatan.

It also deployed water trucks, a water filtration machine, and fire trucks from BFP-Sorsogon to conduct flushing operations in affected areas.

The Masbate provincial government, for its part, sent personnel equipped with specialized resources, including water lorries and water desalination units, to deliver clean, potable water to evacuation centers.

The Camarines Sur provincial government also deployed three lorry trucks to provide clean water to affected residents.

Meanwhile, uniformed personnel from the PNP, BFP, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Philippine Army were deployed to assist affected communities.

The PNP provided rapid on-the-ground assistance, while the PCG deployed a water desalination and purification unit. The BFP also continued flushing operations in ashfall-hit areas.

The Philippine Red Cross fielded its RC143 volunteers in Camalig, Guinobatan, Legazpi City, and Daraga to provide real-time documentation and situational updates.

The organization also distributed 2,000 N95 face masks to affected residents. (With a report from Carlo Martin Cruel, OJT/PNA)