House Speaker Martin Romualdez has authorized the transfer of P33 million in "cash and in-kind" assistance to inhabitants of Albay who live near the restive Mayon Volcano, particularly those evacuated from the six-kilometer permanent danger zone.
Romualdez, together with Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Rep. Jude Acidre, provided P1 million in aid for each of Albay province's first three districts to ensure prompt assistance.
This assistance consists of P500,000 in cash and P500,000 in relief supplies from Romualdez's own calamity funds as a show of solidarity with the people of Albay.
The Ako Bicol party-list has mobilized volunteers and field personnel across Region 5 to form teams dedicated to assisting in local disaster risk reduction and management activities, particularly evacuating citizens and safeguarding their animals.
Sen. Francis Tolentino proposed an innovative "adopt a livestock" initiative for numerous municipalities in Albay province.
Tolentino hopes to evacuate horses, cows, and other livestock to safer regions following the success of a similar initiative during the Taal Volcano eruption in 2020.
He served as the Duterte administration's general on-site point person in the aftermath of the 2018 Mayon and 2020 Taal eruptions.
Tolentino's idea was supported by Albay Governor Edcel Greco Lagman, who recognized its potential to ease overcrowding in evacuation shelters.
Meanwhile, the Diocese of Legazpi has established the "Simbahan para sa Mayon Disaster Response" and Parish Disaster Response Committee in order to collect non-food donations for individuals temporarily dwelling in evacuation locations.
On June 8, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology upgraded Mayon Volcano's status to Alert Level 3 due to an "increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption."
Archdiocese of Caceres SAC Director, Fr. Marc Real also stated that they are prepared to assist the Diocese of Legazpi in its disaster response.
