LEGAZPI CITY - After 4,000 years of slumber, a dormant volcano in Manito town in Albay might erupt just like Mt. Pinatubo did in 1991.
Government volcanologists are investigating reports that a volcano in the Pocdol mountain range hurled mud 40 feet into the air before Mayon volcano's recent major eruption late in February.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) was asked by city residents to investigate what they described as "a glowing phenomenon" that has been visible on Cayaban Peak in the Pocdol mountain range in Barangay Nagotgot.
In Barangay Buragwis, an elevated area facing Manito across Albay Gulf, residents reported seeing the "glowing phenomenon" in Pocdol mountain range after a recent earthquake and while Mayon volcano was erupting.
On the other hand, people in a barangay below the Cayabon Peak, said the smell of sulfur became intense in the area after the earthquake, and that the waters in Albay Gulf boiled, but it has since simmered down.
Volcanologist Ed Laguerta confirmed that Pocdol mountain range is comprised of dormant volcanoes that had erupted several times in the past, and that this information is based on the range's geologic past.
Cayabon Peak, where witnesses saw the strange glow, was a crater when the mountain ranges were active volcanoes a thousand years ago, he added.
However, Laguerta said volcanologists still have to verify reports from residents that the mountain range had come to life and that the volcanoes have become active again.
As for Mayon, Phivolcs warned people to remain vigilant against a possible resurgence of the volcano's activity even as it appeared quiet yesterday.
Instruments around the volcano detected seven low-frequency volcanic earthquakes and four episodes of short-duration tremors for the past 24 hours.
Data from the electronic distance meter showed no change in the size of Mayon's cone, although sulfur gas emission was slightly higher at 4,330 tons a day compared to the previous readings at 4,000 tons, the agency said.
Government scientists said Mayon's relatively high sulfur dioxide output was due to the degassing process of the remaining magma, but that this was still way above normal levels.
Phivolcs has allowed thousands of evacuees to return to areas outside the permanent danger zone, including the seven-kilometer expanded danger zone at Mayon's southeast sector.
Yolanda Guanzon, provincial social welfare development officer, said the number of evacuees have dropped to 44,866 from 56,658 and evacuation centers from to 29 from 36 after many evacuees were permitted to return home.
A total of 787 evacuees from Bacacay, 755 from Guinobatan, and 1,284 from Ligao are still in evacuation centers in those towns, and that 7,901 refugees remain in four temporary shelters in Camalig town, she added.
Cedric Daep, chief of the Albay Provincial Disaster Management Office, said 516 families in Daraga town, 289 in Camalig, and 345 in Malilipot will be resettled.
At the Department of Education, the School Health and Nutrition Center has dispatched a team of nurses, doctors, and dental aides to Albay to help prevent the outbreak of diseases in evacuation centers.
Dr. Thelma Santos, the center's director, said experts from the Education Department's division office in Albay will also look into the nutritional needs of evacuees, particularly children.
The medical team will also distribute noodles fortified with iron and vitamins to evacuees, she added.
At the Health Department, Secretary Alfredo Romualdez Jr. warned of an outbreak of water- and food-borne diseases in evacuation centers because of their unsanitary conditions.
After an ocular inspection of the centers, Romualdez noticed that solid wastes are piling up and that a garbage dump is needed to prevent the spread of diseases.
Health officials recorded a rise in respiratory ailments immediately after Mayon's eruption, but an outbreak was prevented following the release of medicines and masks to evacuees.
Meanwhile, Japan will donate more than P3 million worth of relief goods to the victims of Mayon's eruption, the Japanese Embassy announced yesterday.
The Albay Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council had asked Japan for tents, blankets, mats, medicine and water purifiers.
Earlier, the US had given at least P20 million to buy and transport tents and other necessary relief goods.
US Ambassador Thomas Hubbard said the US Agency for International Development has also contributed about $268,000 to the package, $50,000 of which went to the Philippine National Red Cross to buy portable latrines, and airlift 100 large sheets of Tarpaulin, several water tanks, and about 5,000 collapsible jerry cans.-- Celso Amo, Felix delos Santos, Sheila Crisostomo, Mayen Jaymalin, and Aurea Calica