DSWD readies relief, masks after Bulusan ash burst

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday said it has already prepared relief goods and face masks for residents of affected towns in Sorsogon province following Mt. Bulusan’s continued restiveness over the past few days. DSWD officer-in-charge Alicia Bala said that the department has already provided 600 pieces of face masks to the Casiguran municipal government to protect residents from dust and ash spewed by the volcano. The DSWD office in the Bicol region has also readied 1,088 packs of relief goods containing food items, clothing, blankets and mats to be distributed to the 80,000 residents that may be affected if Mt. Bulusan’s restiveness worsens into an explosive eruption. Medicines for asthma and other pulmonary diseases that may be triggered by ash spewed by the volcano have already been provided to Casiguran town officials, according to DSWD. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Tuesday afternoon another ash explosion from Mt. Bulusan — the third time the volcano spewed ash since Saturday. (See: Mt. Bulusan spews ash for the 3rd time) The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) earlier said that residents living near the volcano are ready to be evacuated in case Mt. Bulusan’s activities heighten in the coming days. (See: NDRRMC: Bulusan folk ‘ready’ for evacuation) DSWD Region V director Remia Tapispisan meanwhile said that the situation in the vicinity of Mt. Bulusan remains “peaceful and normal" as of posting time. The Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) team in Sorsogon is continuously communicating with the Casiguran local government regarding disaster preparedness and operations, she added.—Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV