The Bicol Region has escalated its disaster preparedness to the highest level as Mount Mayon exhibits signs of increased volcanic activity. The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council – Emergency Operations Center (RDRRMC-EOC) declared a red alert status on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, mobilizing all government response clusters for potential eruption impacts.
Government Agencies Mobilize for Full-Scale Response
Claudio Yucot, Regional Director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and chair of the Bicol RDRRMC, confirmed the activation. This alert level requires all designated response clusters to be on standby and to begin reporting their operational status daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for consolidated monitoring. The government has assigned specific responsibilities to various agencies to ensure a coordinated effort.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will handle camp management and the distribution of food and non-food items. Other key assignments include:
- Department of Health (DOH): Health services.
- Philippine National Police (PNP): Law and order.
- Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH): Debris clearing.
- Department of Education (DepEd): Education and alternative learning setups.
Yucot emphasized that the evacuation of residents inside the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is being led by local disaster councils in coordination with provincial authorities and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Immediate Relief Reaches Displaced Families in Albay
As preemptive evacuations commenced, the DSWD swiftly provided assistance to displaced families. On Tuesday night, January 6, DSWD Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio personally distributed relief items at an evacuation center in Camalig, Albay.
The agency distributed a total of 163 Ready-to-Eat Food (RTEF) boxes to families from Barangays Quirangay and Anoling, who are currently sheltered at Tagaytay Elementary School and Bariw Elementary School. These boxes contain no-cook meals like pre-packaged arroz caldo, champorado, protein biscuits, and tuna paella, designed to meet immediate nutritional needs while community kitchens are established.
Director Laurio stated that following the RTEF packs, the DSWD will also distribute standard Family Food Packs (FFPs) containing rice, canned goods, and powdered drinks. Furthermore, modular tents have been set up in Tabaco City to provide safe and comfortable spaces for evacuees.
Local Government Implements Strict Safety Measures
Albay Governor Noel Rosal has implemented several critical measures to ensure public safety. He has ordered the suspension of classes at all levels for schools located within the 6-km PDZ. Governor Rosal also requested DepEd and school heads managing evacuation centers to shift to alternative learning methods and coordinate with local government units for support.
In a decisive move to prevent casualties, Governor Rosal directed the Albay Police Provincial Office and the Philippine Army to secure the perimeter of Mayon Volcano, strictly prohibiting any entry into the 6-km radius PDZ. The ban extends to all human activities within the zone, including mountain climbing, orchid picking, and vegetable harvesting.
With all response assets on standby and closely monitored, the Bicol region braces for the potential escalation of Mayon Volcano's activity, prioritizing the safety and welfare of its residents in the surrounding communities.
