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Helen Flores - The Philippine Star
May 5, 2026 | 12:00am
Volunteers repack relief goods at the Department of Social Welfare and Development National Resource Operations Center in Pasay City yesterday, for distribution to residents in Albay affected by ashfall from Mayon Volcano.
Edd Gumban
MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has ordered the immediate clearing of roads in areas affected by the recent eruption of Mayon Volcano in Albay to prevent disruption to people’s daily activities and provide assistance to those affected by the ashfall.
“Right now, we have to clean the roads because of the ashfall,” Marcos told reporters during the opening of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway or CALAX Subsection 3 in General Trias, Cavite yesterday.
The President said the Department of Public Works and Highways is working to ensure all the thoroughfares would be open.
“And I think we’ll be able to say that the thoroughfares will be open perhaps by today (Monday),” the President said.
According to the Chief Executive, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon went to Albay over the weekend to check the condition of the residents following Mayon’s strombolian eruption last Saturday.
Marcos said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) immediately provided assistance to residents, including food and other basic needs, while the Department of Health (DOH) continued to distribute face masks.
He said he was also able to talk to Albay Gov. Noel Rosal, who informed him that all the needs of the affected residents have been provided.
With quick response, authorities were able to minimize the effects of the ashfall, Marcos said.
“And that’s what we are concerned about. The first concern of course was the health concerns. And we were able to bring out the people who were in the danger area. We were able to provide them with medical attention,” he said.
More than 100,000 residents have been affected by Mayon Volcano’s ongoing unrest, according to the latest report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Camalig and Guinobatan were among the most affected towns.
Coast Guard District Bicol assisted in clearing operations in Guinobatan, and has sent a water desalinator/water purification unit that can produce more than 10,000 liters of potable water daily.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) will not raise the alert level for Mayon Volcano from 3 to 4, according to Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.
Solidum said Mayon has not shown Alert Level 4 signs, which imply a strong, life-threatening eruption within hours or days. — EJ Macababbad, Andrew Ronquillo, Evelyn Macairan, Rhodina Villanueva, Delon Porcalla, Pia Lee-Brago,
