The Social Action Center (SAC) of the Diocese of Legazpi said over 15,000 evacuees who were displaced by the continuing unrest of the Mayon Volcano are in need of more non-food items. Fr. Eric Matillano, executive director of SAC – Legazpi, said the affected residents as of June 14 have reached 15,241 individuals or 4,286 families in 24 evacuation centers, coming from 23 villages from five municipalities and two cities. He said they need sleeping mats, cooking utensils, hygiene kits, and water and water jugs, both for drinking and domestic use, additional toilets, and communal kitchens. Earlier, Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon advised the pastors in 49 parishes to contribute to the ‘tinagba’ (first harvest) offerings to be sent to seminaries. The ‘tinagba’ offering was done during the celebration of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi on June 11. The SAC Legazpi has activated its Emergency Office Protocol for ‘Simbahan para sa Mayon 2023’ (Church for Mayon 2023) emergency response. Vicarial teams were assigned to affected parishes/municipalities. As of Thursday, Mayon Volcano is still under Alert Level 3 as declared by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). It is currently in a relatively high level of unrest as magma is at the crater and hazardous eruption is possible within weeks or even days. On June 9, the Albay provincial council declared a state of calamity following the notice issued by Phivolcs of Alert Level 3. Donations in kind may be directly delivered to local parishes or to SAC Legazpi office at Albay Cathedral compound. Cash donations may be deposited to the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) account: Social Action Center -SPM, account number 0851-0067-3
Source: Philippines News Agency
