SANTO DOMINGO, Albay – A total of 5,473 individuals or 1,688 families evacuated here due to restive Mayon Volcano returned home on Wednesday, June 21.
Mayor Jun Aguas here said that evacuees decamped after Albay Gov. Grex Lagman issued an order that those living outside the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) can return to their homes despite the volcano still under Alert Level 3 (increased tendency towards hazardous eruption).
AMID a restive Mayon Volcano, school children complete their modules at the Santo Domingo Central School in Santo Domingo, Albay, before going home. (Niño N. Luces) These evacuees from Barangays Lidong, Santa Misericordia, Fidel Surtida, San Fernando, and San Isidro voluntarily evacuated to the Santo Domingo Central School, San Andres Elementary School, and Sitio Bical, Barangay Salvacion due to fear from rumbling sounds, rockfalls, and lava flows from Mayon. On Monday, June 19, Lagman questioned why residents in the seven- to eight-kilometer Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) were evacuated, particularly in the towns of Guinobatan and Santo Domingo. Lagman said that 44 percent of the total evacuated residents were from outside the six-kilometer PDZ which the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) prepared for evacuation. He cited the limited resources of the province for the evacuees and inconvenience suffered by displaced residents. Lagman wrote letters to Mayor Chino Garcia of Guinobatan and Aguas asking them to explain why they were evacuated. "In consideration of the above and the meager resources that we have, the inconvenience to the displaced individuals and the possible secondary effects such as disease outbreaks, mental, and psychological health issues, may I respectfully request and urge the local government of Santo Domingo to allow the current evacuees composed of 1,688 families or 5,473 persons to return to their residences for the time being until Phivolcs recommend that they be evacuated. This will ensure that our stockpile will be able to last should we evacuate residents from the seven- and eight-kilometer radius extended danger zone, prevent donor's fatigue, and promote well-being of our evacuees," Lagman said in his letter to the two mayors. Aguas said that he will respect the decision of the governor and advised evacuated residents to return home. "Pero (But) put it on record that those residents na ayaw bumalik sa kanilang bahay, hindi natin pipilitin (who don’t want to return home will not be forced. They can still stay at the evacuation centers)," he said. Aguas said that these residents volunteered to flee due to fear from Mayon. "Let me be clear kasi nung time na ‘yun wala akong inisyung order (I did not issue any order to evacuate). In fact, I was the last mayor na nagpa-evacuate kasi cleared na po ‘yung six-kilometer PDZ (to order an evacuation because the six-kilometer PDZ has been cleared). Itong mga extended to seven kilometers natin, it was the reaction of June 12. Early morning, around 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. nagsitawagan na po sa akin ‘yung mga purok leaders at barangay officials dahil nafi-feel na nila ‘yung danger. Why? Nung June 12 grabe ‘yung discharge nang lava facing Lidong. Hindi lang po lava nakikita nila, which includes may mga ashfall na po (This extended danger zone was the reaction on June 12. Early morning, around 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., purok leaders and barangay officials called me because they felt danger. Why? Because on that day, the lava discharge facing Lidong was dangerous. Noy only lava, but also ashfall)," he said. Aguas cited the mandate of a local chief executive to ensure the safety of his constituents. "Hindi ko na po puwedeng pigilan ‘yun na natatakot na ‘yung tao. Nilagay po natin sila sa safe na lugar, ‘yung hindi na sila natatakot. Alam mo ‘yung resource puwede hanapin. Puwede ipaki-usap, puwede hingin sa mga taong may mga magagandang puso. Pero ‘yung buhay ng tao, hindi ko na puwedeng hingin yan kahit kanino (I can’t stop the people from fleeing if they feel they are in danger. We put them in a safe place, where they won’t be scared. Resources can be requested found from kind-hearted individuals. But the life of the people, that I can’t ask from anybody)," he added. Aguas said that as of June 21, he has not received any assistance from the provincial government. Relief goods and non-food assistance being distributed to evacuees were from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Ako Bicol party-list, other donors such as senators and the Office of the Vice President, and private donations. Garcia said he will not follow the order of Lagman and evacuees will remain at evacuation centers to ensure their safety. He stressed the importance of the people's lives than sending them home. Garcia said residents living outside the required population to evacuate also volunteered to leave their homes due to fear of possible hazardous eruption. He said these population evacuated in the seven to eight-kilometer EDZ are living in the two major gullies of Mayon where these are too dangerous for them during an eruption. Helen Salvadora Ramirez, a resident of Purok 1, Barangay Lidong, challenged Lagman to at least visit their residence to understand their situation. She narrated that they have sleepless nights and always worried for families every time Mayon rumbles. "Maniniwala kami sayo gob na mahal mo kami kung sasamahan mo kami sa Purok 1, Lidong na nasa seven kilometers. Para meron naman kaming karamay na lumanghap ng abo at saka asupre na ibinubuga ng Mayon. At saka samahan mo kami na hindi matulog sa gabi upang bantayan si Mayon at baka pumutok (We will believe that you love us governor if you will accompany us to Purok 1, Lidong in the seven-kilometer EDZ, so that we will have someone with us to sniff the ash and sulfur from Mayon. You should also accompany us too at night in guarding Mayon which might erupt)," she said.
AMID a restive Mayon Volcano, school children complete their modules at the Santo Domingo Central School in Santo Domingo, Albay, before going home. (Niño N. Luces) These evacuees from Barangays Lidong, Santa Misericordia, Fidel Surtida, San Fernando, and San Isidro voluntarily evacuated to the Santo Domingo Central School, San Andres Elementary School, and Sitio Bical, Barangay Salvacion due to fear from rumbling sounds, rockfalls, and lava flows from Mayon. On Monday, June 19, Lagman questioned why residents in the seven- to eight-kilometer Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) were evacuated, particularly in the towns of Guinobatan and Santo Domingo. Lagman said that 44 percent of the total evacuated residents were from outside the six-kilometer PDZ which the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) prepared for evacuation. He cited the limited resources of the province for the evacuees and inconvenience suffered by displaced residents. Lagman wrote letters to Mayor Chino Garcia of Guinobatan and Aguas asking them to explain why they were evacuated. "In consideration of the above and the meager resources that we have, the inconvenience to the displaced individuals and the possible secondary effects such as disease outbreaks, mental, and psychological health issues, may I respectfully request and urge the local government of Santo Domingo to allow the current evacuees composed of 1,688 families or 5,473 persons to return to their residences for the time being until Phivolcs recommend that they be evacuated. This will ensure that our stockpile will be able to last should we evacuate residents from the seven- and eight-kilometer radius extended danger zone, prevent donor's fatigue, and promote well-being of our evacuees," Lagman said in his letter to the two mayors. Aguas said that he will respect the decision of the governor and advised evacuated residents to return home. "Pero (But) put it on record that those residents na ayaw bumalik sa kanilang bahay, hindi natin pipilitin (who don’t want to return home will not be forced. They can still stay at the evacuation centers)," he said. Aguas said that these residents volunteered to flee due to fear from Mayon. "Let me be clear kasi nung time na ‘yun wala akong inisyung order (I did not issue any order to evacuate). In fact, I was the last mayor na nagpa-evacuate kasi cleared na po ‘yung six-kilometer PDZ (to order an evacuation because the six-kilometer PDZ has been cleared). Itong mga extended to seven kilometers natin, it was the reaction of June 12. Early morning, around 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. nagsitawagan na po sa akin ‘yung mga purok leaders at barangay officials dahil nafi-feel na nila ‘yung danger. Why? Nung June 12 grabe ‘yung discharge nang lava facing Lidong. Hindi lang po lava nakikita nila, which includes may mga ashfall na po (This extended danger zone was the reaction on June 12. Early morning, around 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., purok leaders and barangay officials called me because they felt danger. Why? Because on that day, the lava discharge facing Lidong was dangerous. Noy only lava, but also ashfall)," he said. Aguas cited the mandate of a local chief executive to ensure the safety of his constituents. "Hindi ko na po puwedeng pigilan ‘yun na natatakot na ‘yung tao. Nilagay po natin sila sa safe na lugar, ‘yung hindi na sila natatakot. Alam mo ‘yung resource puwede hanapin. Puwede ipaki-usap, puwede hingin sa mga taong may mga magagandang puso. Pero ‘yung buhay ng tao, hindi ko na puwedeng hingin yan kahit kanino (I can’t stop the people from fleeing if they feel they are in danger. We put them in a safe place, where they won’t be scared. Resources can be requested found from kind-hearted individuals. But the life of the people, that I can’t ask from anybody)," he added. Aguas said that as of June 21, he has not received any assistance from the provincial government. Relief goods and non-food assistance being distributed to evacuees were from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Ako Bicol party-list, other donors such as senators and the Office of the Vice President, and private donations. Garcia said he will not follow the order of Lagman and evacuees will remain at evacuation centers to ensure their safety. He stressed the importance of the people's lives than sending them home. Garcia said residents living outside the required population to evacuate also volunteered to leave their homes due to fear of possible hazardous eruption. He said these population evacuated in the seven to eight-kilometer EDZ are living in the two major gullies of Mayon where these are too dangerous for them during an eruption. Helen Salvadora Ramirez, a resident of Purok 1, Barangay Lidong, challenged Lagman to at least visit their residence to understand their situation. She narrated that they have sleepless nights and always worried for families every time Mayon rumbles. "Maniniwala kami sayo gob na mahal mo kami kung sasamahan mo kami sa Purok 1, Lidong na nasa seven kilometers. Para meron naman kaming karamay na lumanghap ng abo at saka asupre na ibinubuga ng Mayon. At saka samahan mo kami na hindi matulog sa gabi upang bantayan si Mayon at baka pumutok (We will believe that you love us governor if you will accompany us to Purok 1, Lidong in the seven-kilometer EDZ, so that we will have someone with us to sniff the ash and sulfur from Mayon. You should also accompany us too at night in guarding Mayon which might erupt)," she said.