The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) - Bicol Region on Monday reminded the public that Albay province is still safe for tourists despite the unrest of the Mayon Volcano.
The reminder comes after the Albay's Tourism Department received criticism for providing a list of safe viewing locations for visitors who wish to observe the lava flow from Mayon Volcano's rumbling.
Some social media users chastised the organization for promoting "disaster tourism" amid thousands of people being affected by the Volcano's unrest.
According to OCD - Bicol spokesperson Gremil Naz, the current state of Mayon does not necessitate any tourism bans or suspensions outside the 6-kilometer permanent hazard zone of Mayon Volcano.
The OCD earlier recommended turning the 6-kilometer permanent hazard zone of the Mayon volcano into a national park. It contended that the action would keep locals away from the area, reducing the need for evacuation should Mayon erupt.
More than 20,000 individuals have been relocated to evacuation camps as a result of the Mayon's unrest, based on the latest monitoring of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) earlier said that the rumbling in Mayon Volcano might linger for months.
The country is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity as it is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The Mayon is located in an area that had been affected by 20 typhoons or tropical storms.
