Albay placed under state of calamity due to Mayon Volcano activity

The provincial government has placed Albay under state of calamity due to the activity of Mayon Volcano, the Provincial Information Office (PIO) said Friday.

“The Province of Albay is now placed under a STATE OF CALAMITY pursuant to Resolution No. 0607-2023 of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Albay, following the notice issued yesterday by PHIVOLCS raising the status of Mayon volcano to Alert Level 3,” Albay PIO said in a Facebook post.

Alert Level 3 signifies "increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption," according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

The declaration of state of calamity will hasten the rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts of the government and the private sector.

This will also control the prices of basic commodities and necessities and will allow the local government units to utilize appropriate funds for their rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation measures.

During a special session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Albay Governor Edcel Greco Lagman said he suggested declaring the state of calamity to allow the utilization of the P42-million quick response fund.

“Ang effect po nito is to give the Governor, it will give me the authority to actually release and use the quick response fund,” he said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News