VP Robredo visits Mayon evacuees, sees needs for more sleeping mats, toiletries

Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday visited evacuation centers housing residents affected by the eruption of Mayon Volcano and saw the need for more toiletries, sleeping mats and other supplies.

Robredo, in a report on QRT, said these needs must be addressed immediately especially since authorities are unsure on how long Mayon Volcano's activities will continue.

"Yung mga pinakakailangan talaga nila, pagkain, toiletries, banig, kumot, kasi halimbawa, sabihin natin may napasok tayong classroom, 'yung mga bata sa karton nahihiga, medyo malamig 'yung sahig," Robredo said.

"Inaalala natin yung kalusugan, lalung-lalo na kasi 'yung ashfall talagang nakaka-trigger ng hika."

She vowed to gather funds for a permanent evacuation center for residents near the permanent danger zone of the volcano.

Robredo visited evacuation centers and distributed relief goods at evacuation centers in Kamalig, Ginubatan, and Ligaw.

More than 61,000 individuals were evacuated by Wednesday after five more episodes of "intense but sporadic lava fountaining" were observed from Mayon Volcano's crater over a 19-hour period since Tuesday morning.

About 55,068 residents were taken to temporary shelters while 6,165 stayed elsewhere.

Classes were suspended in 17 cities and municipalities in Albay and Camarines Sur, Robredo's home province, while 56 flights were canceled due to intense volcanic activity. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News