NDRRMC: P20M worth of agri damage reported due to Bulusan Volcano activity

Around P20 million worth of damage in agriculture has been reported due to the activity of Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Tuesday.

“The assessment that was provided was only an initial assessment so currently we're still at P20 million,” NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said in an interview on ANC.

He added that the figures will be updated later in the afternoon.

According to him, the Department of Agriculture set up evacuation sites for livestock to protect them from the dangers of ashfall and provide assistance to affected local farmers.

Timbal said ashfall from Bulusan has already stopped and cleaning activities are now being done in the concerned areas.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, Sorsogon’s provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer Engr. Raden Dimaano said the residents are close to returning to their normal lives.

“Halos pabalik na tayo sa normal nilang buhay hopefully na hindi na pumutok si bulkan at hindi mag-recommend si PHIVOLCS na mataas yung alert level,” he said.

(We are almost back to normal, hopefully the volcano will not erupt again and PHIVOLCS will not recommend a higher alert level.)

On Sunday, Bulusan Volcano had a phreatic eruption that lasted for 17 minutes which prompted the local government to evacuate affected residents.

The municipalities of Juban, Casiguran, and Irosin experienced ashfall from the volcano.—AOL, GMA News