Agri damage in Albay due to Mayon unrest now P13.32M - DA

The damage to agricultural products in Albay province due to the ashfall brought by Mayon Volcano’s unrest has reached over P13 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.

DA Deputy Spokesperson Joycel Panlilio said that 228 farmers were affected by the volcano’s activity.

“Ayon po doon sa pinakahuling ulat na amin pong natanggap, ito po ay noong nakaraang May 8 of 2026, ang area affected na po nitong ashfall po ng Bulkang Mayon ay 102 hectares na po ito at ang apektado po ay dalawang daan dalawampu’t walong farmers na po ang apektado nito; at ang halaga po ng damage po sa ating agricultural products ay P13.32 million na po,” the DA official said in “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.”

(According to the latest report we received last May 8, 2026, the area affected by the ashfall from Mayon Volcano has reached 102 hectares; 228 farmers have been affected, and the value of the damage to our agricultural products is now at P13.32 million.)

The DA admitted that it’s a challenge for them to assess the full extent of the damage, especially in agricultural areas within the permanent danger zone, due to the continuous ashfall.

“So, ang ginagawa lang po ng Department of Agriculture ay patuloy po ang pagmu-monitor po sa mga areas po within po doon sa seven to eight kilometer radius po kapag ito po ay nakita pong safe nang puntahan at magkaroon ng assessment po,” said Panlilio.

(So, what the Department of Agriculture is doing is continuously monitoring the areas within the seven to eight-kilometer radius once it is seen as safe to enter and conduct an assessment.)

“Pero ang amin pong regional field offices sa Region V ay closely monitoring po with our local government units at saka po sa kanilang mga municipal at agriculture offices po, pati po mayroon po tayong mga field personnel po doon na kanila pong nakakasama,” she added.

(However, our regional field offices in Region V are closely monitoring with our local government units as well as their municipal and agriculture offices; we also have field personnel there who are working with them.)

The agricultural department said that among the assistance it has extended to affected farmers include seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and farm tools.

“At para naman po doon sa ating mga mangingisda, mayroon pong tulong na ipinapaabot po ang ating Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the form po ng tilapia fingerlings na umaabot po ng P648,000 ang halaga. At mayroon din pong mga feeds and supplements na ipinamimigay po, ito po ay nagkakahalaga po sa ngayon ng P151,000,” said Panlilio.

(And for our fisherfolk, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is extending help in the form of tilapia fingerlings worth P648,000. There are also feeds and supplements being distributed, which currently amount to P151,000.)

The DA official also said that the National Food Authority (NFA) will distribute 18,470 metric tons of milled rice to the local government units affected by the ashfall.

The Albay provincial government earlier said that 6,411 farmers will receive P10,200 cash assistance. —RF, GMA News