Marcos wants agencies to be prepared as Mayon’s alert status raised

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Friday he was working with state agencies and local government units to ensure readiness in light of the Mayon Volcano’s increasing unrest.

Marcos said that he has been coordinating with agencies such as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

“Matapos itaas sa Alert Level 2 ang Bulkang Mayon, tayo ay patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayan sa PHIVOLCS, NDRRMC, LGUs at iba pang ahensya upang siguraduhin na ang lahat ay handa sa posibleng pagbago ng sitwasyon. Mag-ingat po tayo,” the President said on Twitter. 

(After Alert Level 2 was raised over Mayon Volcano, we continued to communicate with PHIVOLCS, NDRRMC, LGUs, and other agencies to make sure that everyone is prepared for a possible change in the situation. Stay safe.)

PHIVOLCS has placed the volcano in Albay province under Alert Level 2 due to its “current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes that could eventually lead to phreatic eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruption.” 

Under Alert Level 2, the public is advised against entering the volcano’s six-kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) to minimize the risks from sudden explosions, rockfall, and landslides. 

Civil aviation authorities must also inform pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.

In August, the volcano was placed under Alert Level 1 after it exhibited “low-level unrest.” — VBL, GMA News