Albay declared 'open city' to facilitate aid

Albay province in Bicol, which is under a state of calamity, was declared an "open city" on Friday to allow the faster entry of aid for residents affected by recent flooding and landslides brought by continuous rains. Lt. Darwin Nieva, spokesman of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said the move will allow groups to bring in aid without coordinating with the provincial government. Radio dzBB on Friday quoted Nieva as saying the declaration, approved by the provincial council, will speed up the delivery of relief to affected residents. Several families were evacuated from their homes in Albay earlier this week, after heavy rains brought by a cold front threatened to bring floods and landslides. The provincial government also continued to monitor Mayon Volcano as the rains may trigger lahar flows. In December 2009, the Albay provincial government similarly declared the province an open city to maximize the entry and distribution of relief goods. At the time, the government was seeking to minimize potential casualties with the looming eruption then of Mayon Volcano. – VVP, GMANews.TV