DOH allocates P1.8 million to Mayon Volcano victims contingency fund

The Department of Health (DOH) earmarked P1.8 million for a contingency fund that would aid those affected by Mayon Volcano’s intensified unrest, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said Sunday.

In a virtual press conference, the newly appointed DOH chief said P303,000 in logistics was mobilized in local government units affected by Mayon Volcano’s recent activities.

“A total of P1.8 million ang in-allocate namin as contingency fund. Nagtalaga pa ako ng additional money. Inutusan ko ‘yung central office, DRRMO office namin para mag-mobilize ng more money kasi hiningin ako ni regional director ng additional funds,” Herbosa said.

(We allocated a total of P1.8 million to a contingency fund. I am asking for additional money. I ordered our DRRMO office to mobilize more money because the regional director asked me for additional funds.)

As of Sunday, one volcanic earthquake and 177 rockfall events were recorded in Mayon Volcano over the past 24 hours as it remained under Alert Level 3, according to PHIVOLCS.

Herbosa said over 6,300 people were staying in 18 evacuation centers in Albay.

He stressed that the DOH is monitoring the situation in these evacuation centers, given that crowded places were prone to spreading acute respiratory infections, as well as COVID-19.

Herbosa wants some bivalent COVID-19 vaccines to be brought to these evacuation centers to help protect the vulnerable populations against the virus.

Residents and tourists were also warned about potential health risks of inhaling the sulfur dioxide or ashfall emitted by the volcano. He said that people should wear N95 masks to protect themselves.

“‘Yung emissions niyan may sulfur or sulfur dioxide so kumakabit sa hemoglobin ‘yan, nakakapoison ng dugo. Tapos ‘yung dust naman and ash can stick sa lungs natin,” Herbosa added.

(Those emissions have sulfur or sulfur dioxide that attaches to the hemoglobin and could poison the blood. The dust and ash can also stick to our lungs.)

The Albay Provincial Health Office raised a Code Blue alert on the province on Thursday, June 8.

Under this alert level, there is a 50% agency resource mobilization, meaning teams are mobilized to augment existing regular day-to-day resources, to tend to affected areas, or to treat patients.

All municipal/district hospitals, provincial hospitals, rural and city health units and offices, and Albay Provincial Health and Emergency Management Staff personnel, were likewise directed to be vigilant and send related flash reports to the Province Health Office. — DVM, GMA Integrated News