DepEd prepositions emergency aid for Albay schools amid Mayon unrest

The Department of Education (DepEd) has prepositioned emergency supplies for schools in Albay as Mayon Volcano’s intensified unrest forced some campuses in the province to double as evacuation centers.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said Tuesday, learner and personnel safety remains the agency’s top priority as Mayon remains under Alert Level 3, with at least three schools in Camalig town now sheltering displaced families.

“Prayoridad natin ang kanilang kaligtasan habang nagbibigay ng suporta para sa kanilang edukasyon sa gitna ng sakuna,” he said.

(Our priority is their safety while continuing to support their education amid this disaster.)

To support affected school communities, DepEd said it has prepositioned at least 850 all-weather kits and N95 masks for immediate distribution, along with P20,000 worth of learning, teaching, and hygiene kits per school to strengthen local contingency measures.

“Sisikapin natin na hindi maantala ang pag-aaral ng ating mga kabataan dito sa Albay sa kabila ng sitwasyon, lalo na’t magsisimula na ang summer remediation programs at darating na ang pasukan,” Angara added.

(We will do our best to ensure that the education of our youth in Albay is not disrupted despite the situation, especially with summer remediation programs about to begin and the opening of classes approaching.)

Evacuation centers

As of May 3, Tagaytay Elementary School, Bariw Elementary School, and Cabangan Elementary School in Camalig, Albay were being used as evacuation centers.

DepEd said 34 classrooms in the three schools have been repurposed to temporarily shelter 488 families, or about 1,315 individuals, including 101 displaced learners and nine affected personnel.

The agency said it is coordinating with local disaster authorities to strengthen emergency preparedness and enforce safety protocols in schools, while field offices have been directed to secure learning materials, school records, and equipment and preposition essential resources.

Mayon remains under Alert Level 3 due to intensified magmatic unrest, with authorities strictly prohibiting entry into the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone and the Extended Danger Zone because of the risk of sudden explosions, steam-driven eruptions, and lava flow.

The unrest of Mayon Volcano could last for several more weeks, although several factors must still be considered before raising its alert status to Level 4, PHIVOLCS said on Monday. —VAL, GMA News