P189.4-M Albay crops damaged due to Mayon Volcano's activity

Ashfall and pyroclastic materials spewed by Mayon Volcano over the past two weeks have damaged P189.4 million worth of crops in Albay province.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that as of 8 a.m. Sunday, the activity of the volcano has damaged P181,382,970 worth of rice, P7,573,696 worth of corn and P478,000 worth of abaca.

A Super Radyo dzBB interview, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said 70 percent of rice farms around Mayon Volcano has been damaged.

Piñol said he will travel to Albay this afternoon to assess the volcano's damage to agricultural farms and come up with recommendations to President Rodrigo Duterte, who is scheduled to visit the province on Monday.

He said the Agriculture department has a quick reaction fund of P1 billion that may be used to provide aid to the affected farmers.

In its report, the NDRRMC said the Agriculture department has prepared 475 bags of hybrid corn seeds and 10 bgs of corn grits that will be distributed to farmers in affected areas.

The Agriculture department, in coordination with local authorities, has also evacuated dozens of animals from the eight-kilometer danger zone of the volcano.

Mayon Volcano continues to spew ash, lava and pyroclastic materials on Sunday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded at least three eruptions from 6:22 p.m. to 5:36 a.m. Sunday.

Alert Level 4 remains in effect over mayon volcano, which means a hazardous eruption is possible within days.

More than 89,000 people have been evacuated from communities within the eight-kilometer danger zone of the volcano. —ALG, GMA News