Albay residents evacuate amid Mayon unrest, impacting local schools

Concerns about students missing classes in Albay arise as classrooms are turned into evacuation centers amid the ongoing activity of Mayon Volcano.

In Bea Pinlac’s report in “24 Oras” on Wednesday, the Department of Education said that 24 classrooms in Camalig are currently serving as temporary shelters for affected residents.

The Bariw Elementary School suddenly became a house for displaced residents where they do their laundry, hang their clothes out to dry, cook, wash dishes, and serve as sleeping quarters.

The school has been a home to over 100 residents of Barangay Quirangay, who are living within the 6-kilometer danger zone of Mayon, since Alert Level 3 was raised in January.

The barangay said that nearly 30 more evacuees were added to the number following the ashfall last weekend.

According to the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), the area in Albay damaged by ashfall is roughly half the size of Quezon City.

But even though Elsie Nantes and her 84-year-old mother are not living within the danger zone, they opted to evacuate for their peace of mind.

“It’s scary. I can run if ever, but how about my mother? I cannot leave her,” said Elsie. “While I’m alive and strong, I will continue taking care of my mother because no other person can do that.”

Elsie is hoping that a wheelchair would be provided to her mom to make evacuation easy for them.

Meanwhile, Mary Ann Vibar sleeps on pieces of cardboard laid out on a classroom floor, together with her seven children, including a baby who is not yet a month old.

“We cannot just simply stay at our home because we would be covered in ashes. It’s worrisome. We are having a hard time but we have no choice,” she said.

In Tagaytay Elementary School, one building is occupied by evacuees.

“If ever they stay there until June, there’s a building in Tagaytay Elementary School that isn't being used. But our problem is in Quirangay. I hope it doesn't go past June, because if it does, the students will be truly affected,” said Camalig Mayor Caloy Baldo.

In the event that evacuees are still at Bariw Elementary School by the start of the school year, they may be transferred to Barangay Bongabong, the report said.

Meanwhile, in the town of Guinobatan no evacuations have been carried out yet.

If Mayon’s status is raised to Alert Level 4 and the danger zone is extended to eight kilometers, approximately 25,000 individuals, or 5,000 families will have to be evacuated.

“We already have an evacuation plan prepared, so it’s already laid out which barangays will be assigned to specific evacuation centers and schools. We have existing evacuation centers, but they aren't enough. We will have to set up temporary learning shelters again, though of course, the children won't be comfortable there,” said Guinobatan Mayor Ann Gemma Ongjoco.

The local government of Guinobatan is appealing to the national government to assist them with relocation, housing, and evacuation to ensure a long-term solution.

Further, the DepEd has mobilized P3.75 million for emergency cleanup and clearing funds for over a hundred schools in Albay affected by ashfall. DepEd also has thousands of learning and safety supplies in reserve.

Additionally, the DepEd will conduct psychosocial interventions to help students affected by the ashfall. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA News