Report: NPA suspends offensive ops around Bulusan Volcano

New People's Army rebels have suspended offensive military operations near restive Bulusan Volcano in Bicol, a radio report said Wednesday. Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported the NPA’s Celso Minguez Command wants the suspension of offensive military operations to help residents affected by Mount Bulusan’s activity. The report quoted the NPA as saying the suspension of offensive military operation (SOMO) aims to facilitate the evacuation of residents from danger areas as well as assistance to them. The SOMO likewise aims to make easier the entry of relief goods for the affected families, the report said. Figures from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) indicated at least 2,740 families or 13,744 people had been affected by Bulusan's activity. Of these, 383 families or 1,232 people were being served in 11 evacuation centers. Alert level 1 remains Meanwhile, the volcano was relatively calm in the last 24 hours, but the area around Bulusan still remains under Alert Level 1 [or there is low-level unrest with slight increase in seismicity], NDRRMC officials said Wednesday. NDRRMC said no volcanic quake was recorded around Bulusan in the last 24 hours, while steam emission was weak. "No volcanic earthquake was recorded by the seismic network around Bulusan Volcano during the past 24 hours. Very weak to weak emission of white steam was observed from the Southeast thermal vent," it said in its 8 a.m. bulletin posted on the NDRRMC website. It added that as of 5:20 a.m. Wednesday, no steaming was observed from the summit crater and thermal vents at the volcano's upper slope. Also, the NDRRMC said no sulfur dioxide emission was detected from the volcano as of Tuesday. Still, the NDRRMC said Alert Level 1 remains over Bulusan, even as it reminded residents not to venture into the 4-km permanent danger zone. It also reminded people near valleys and streams to be vigilant against sediment-laden steam flows in case of heavy and continuous rainfall. Residents located in the volcano's northwest and southwest sectors were advised to take precautions against ash falls. Civil aviation authorities were advised not to fly too close to the volcano's summit, as ejected ash and volcanic fragments may endanger aircraft. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level at Bulusan to "1" last Nov. 6 after Bulusan ejected ash and steam. — LBG, GMANews.TV