Govt readying schools as Mayon evacuation centers

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) in Bicol is now drawing up a list of schools that can be used as evacuation centers in case Mayon Volcano erupts. City and town disaster coordinating councils in Albay province are also conducting information drives in areas likely to be affected in case of an explosion. “DepEd V [is] to submit [a] list of available schools outside the danger zones to be used as evacuation centers in case of preemptive evacuation will be ordered," the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said in its update on the Mayon activity dated 9 p.m. Saturday. It also said the vulnerable population at the 6-km permanent danger zone should be prepared for possible evacuation if the alert level is raised to Level 3. Once the alert level reaches level 3, a preemptive evacuation would be ordered, the NDCC quoted Albay Gov. Jose Salceda as saying. To be evacuated are 1,675 families or 6,996 persons in three cities and five towns. On Friday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the alert level at Mayon to Level 2 after noting increased volcanic activity there. NDCC said there is now also close monitoring of residents outside the declared danger zones through their respective disaster coordinating councils. “[City and municipal disaster coordinating councils are] to conduct capability assessment and hazard public information and education campaign within barangays likely to be affected in their respective areas, in coordination with Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council in Albay," it said. NDCC said authorities in Albay province have banned orchid-gathering, farming and tourist activities at the volcano’s danger zones. It said the Albay Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council issued these bans in two advisories to concerned local government agencies. It cited Pagasa's recommendations that the volcano be off-limits “to any human activity" at the 7-km extended danger zone at southeast quadrant of the volcano, and the 6-km permanent danger zone. - GMANews.TV