96% of Mayon evacuees decamped – Albay gov

A day after state volcanologists reduced Mayon Volcano’s danger alert level, the Albay provincial government has so far sent home 45,000 of the 47,000 evacuees. Governor Joey Salceda on Sunday said only 2,322 from 510 families are in temporary shelters. The remaining evacuees are those living in the six-kilometer-radius permanent danger zone and in the seven-kilometer extended danger zone in Mayon's southeast flank. This includes barangays (villages) in Legazpi City and in Daraga and Camalig towns. Salceda earlier said the government found it more difficult to “decamp" evacuees who have relied on the government for daily food rations and health assistance than those who did not depend on any aid. “Even with entitlements and enticements, many families found value in food and health security in their camps, tempering their natural predisposition for going home," Salceda said. But on Sunday, Salceda said the government was able to convince the residents to return home through the “early recovery package, which consists of the following: 15 kilograms of rice per family for three days of ration, P1,400 in cash-for-work and livelihood programs, and P15-million farm rehabilitation package for affected agricultural communities. Salceda said they had to assure the residents that the government would help them turn back to normalcy after almost 21 days of displacement. “They are Mayon victims whether in the camps or in their homes. Thus, they need the assistance of the state and the community wherever they are," Salceda said. Last Saturday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology lowered Mayon Volcano's warning level to Alert Level 3, prompting the Albay government to send majority of the evacuees home because an eruption is less imminent. Those in the six-to-seven kilometer danger zones still have to take temporary shelter in evacuation camps. About P55.4 million has been spent for evacuees in the past two weeks, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council. - LBG, GMANews.TV