LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – The local government of Guinobatan in Albay province has postponed the month-long celebration of the Arandurugan Festival as Mayon Volcano remains restive for the second straight month.
Mayor Chino Garcia told the Manila Bulletin that instead of celebrating, the local government shifted the events to Serbisyo Caravan to help residents affected by the Mayon Volcano unrest.
Garcia said that the six-day Serbisyo Caravan will bring basic government services, which also include medical and dental operations, relief distribution, feeding programs, and pscho-social interventions to residents affected by Mayon Volcano.
"Dahil hindi natuloy ang festival natin, pero pinalitan natin naman natin ng Serbisyo Caravan. Ka-partner natin dito ang Ako Bicol party-list at ang opisina ng Albay 2D Rep. Joey Salceda para sa lahat ng activities (Our festival was postponed but we replaced this with Serbisyo Caravan in partnership with the Ako Bicol party-list and the office of Albay Rep. Joey Salceda)," Garcia said.
Garcia said that the local government allocated at least P1.3 million for the six-day event which started on August 9.
"Hindi siya totally binura namin ‘yung budget ng festival. Kumbaga portion of that napunta dito sa Serbisyo Caravan (The festival was not totally set aside. We allocated a portion of the budget for the Serbisyo Caravan)," he added.
On Wednesday, the LGU with Ako Bicol party-list held a Serbisyo Caravan for evacuees at the Mauraro Evacuation Center.
Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon and Garcia led the event for evacuees from Barangays Maninila and Tandarora.
"This is the fifth Tarabangan Caravan for the province of Albay and we are very fortunate and grateful because nakipag-partner ang LGU Guinobatan of course headed by Mayor Chico Garcia," Bongalon said.
Tarabangan Caravan is a priority project of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co to residents in Albay affected by tropical cyclones, Mayon Volcano eruption, and other natural disasters.
Last month, Ako Bicol conducted a caravan at the evacuation centers in Camalig, Santo Domingo, Malilipot, and Tabaco City.
Thousands of evacuees benefited from relief distribution, cash assistance payout, free food and non-food items, free medical and dental services, and free haircut and circumcision, among others.