MANILA, Jan. 16 – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has started providing humanitarian aid such as the provision of dust masks to protect affected residents from harmful emissions of the Mayon Volcano in Legazpi City, which is now raised at alert level 3.
The PRC Albay chapter initially provided 20 boxes of dust masks to 1,800 individuals in the municipalities of Camalig and Guinobatan. Another 2,000 pieces of dust masks were sent by the PRC national headquarters as augmentation on January 15.
PRC Chairman Richard Gordon immediately ordered the distribution of tarpaulins in different evacuation centers, particularly in Binogsacan and Lower Binogsacan.
Rapid assessment teams were also deployed to immediately assess the situation in evacuation centers and affected areas.
He added that first aid stations were also set up along with welfare desks to provide psychosocial support to affected individuals.
“The Philippine Red Cross is closely coordinating with the local government unit in Albay to ensure the efficiency of our disaster response operation and to avoid casualties. We also alerted nearby chapters for possible augmentation,” PRC chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon said.
To provide access to safe and clean water, PRC also mobilized its water tanker from PRC Catanduanes Chapter.
Food trucks from Pasay and Manila chapters were also on standby for possible deployment to provide hotmeals to different evacuation centers in Albay.
Based on the report of PRC’s Operations Center, a total of 11,985 individuals or 3,034 families were evacuated from the municipalities of Camalig, Guinobatan and Malilipot.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS) raised alert level 3 over Mayon Volcano, which means hazardous eruption is possible within weeks. All families are also advised to stay out of the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone and the 7-kilometer extended danger zone.
Currently, the PRC is also providing humanitarian assistance to those affected by the recent storms Urduja, Vinta and Agaton. It is also implementing a recovery program for those affected by the Marawi crisis, and the ongoing Yolanda rehabilitation.
The Philippine Red Cross, as the foremost humanitarian organization in the country, has 103 chapters with two million volunteers nationwide that is always first, always ready and always there to provide round-the-clock humanitarian assistance, especially to the most vulnerable.
Aside from disaster responses, PRC’s other services include health, welfare, safety, blood, volunteer service, and Red Cross youth. (PRC)