Albay allows direct assistance in Mayon evacuation centers

Groups planning donations and mercy missions for Mayon evacuees need not course their assistance through the Albay provincial government.

Albay Governor Jose Salceda said Sunday the camps for families evacuated from the danger zone around the restive volcano are "open city."

"Mayon Evacuation Camps are OPEN CITY. Donations, feeding or medical missions and other forms of assistance do not need prior approval and need not be coursed through the provincial government," he said in a post on his Facebook account.

Earlier, the provincial government sought assistance from the national government as it is running out of funds for the evacuees.

Albay officials had evacuated more than 11,000 families from danger zones extending up to eight kilometers around Mayon.

This was after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level at Mayon to "3," meaning an eruption is possible in weeks.

Meanwhile, Salceda said health stations, manned by three RNs with EMTs, are in place in each of the 45 evacuation centers.

He said they "are only to take note of all activities inside the camp." — Joel Locsin/BM, GMA News