34,000 Mayon evacuees return to their homes

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Some 9,800 families or 34,000 evacuees from 31 villages around Mayon Volcano were allowed to go home yesterday.

Albay Gov. and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) chairman Joey Salceda said those who were sent home were residents of Barangays Oson, San Isidro and Buhian in Tabaco City; San Roque and Canaway in Malilipot; Lidong, Fidel Surtida, Sta. Misericordia, San Fernando and San Isidro in Sto. Domingo; Budiao, Alcala, Miisi, Salvacion, Matnog and Banadero in Daraga; Cabangan, Quirangay, Salugan and Sua and Tumpa in Camalig; Maninila, Muladbucad Grande, Muladbucad Pequeno, Tandarora, Masarawag, Dona Tomasa and Maipon in Guinobatan; and Tambo, Nabonton and Amtic in Ligao City.

“Based on the hazard review and vulnerability update using the new markers identifying the six-kilometer permanent danger zone of Mayon Volcano, residents of the 31 affected barangays are now allowed to return home,” PDRRMC Advisory 8 released on Tuesday stated.

Most of the evacuees were from Guinobatan with over 3,000 families followed by Daraga with 1,800 families.

“We have yet to get the validated number of evacuees from the listings of the concerned local government units using the new markers,” Cedric Daep, chief of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office told The STAR.

Daep said the decision to allow the evacuees to return home was arrived at in consultation with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and the mayors in the affected villages.