Philippines orders 90-day relief aid for Mayon volcano evacuees

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday ordered three months of relief assistance to Mayon volcano evacuees.

“Let us be prepared to take as much of the load as soon as possible off of the local government units,” Marcos said in Legazpi City, the eastern portion of the central province of Albay.

More than 15,000 people have been displaced since Sunday when the Mayon volcano in Albay began spewing lava and sulfuric gas.

They have been sheltered in 22 evacuation centers across the central province of the archipelago nation.

Mount Mayon, most active volcano of the Philippines, began spewing lava on Sunday night.

In response to the ongoing crisis, Philippine authorities have already sent out 153,000 food packs for a 90-day cycle to the province, said a statement from the presidential palace.

Individuals, private groups, NGOs and local government agencies are aiding the government efforts in response to the mass evacuation triggered by the volcano.

They have collected more than half a million dollars to provide food and non-food items, water, sanitation and health to the affected people.