Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday ordered the distribution of prepositioned supplies and face masks to affected residents following the phreatic eruption of Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon.
“I instructed that all the prepositioned supplies must already be distributed to the affected families and especially those in the evacuation centers,” Duque said in an interview on ANC.
“And I also already instructed the distribution of N-95 masks and N-88 surgical masks to protect our people from the ashfall and its impact on [the] eyes,” he added.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the eruption occurred at 10:37 a.m. Sunday and lasted for 16 minutes. This raised the alert level of Mount Bulusan from 0 or normal to 1 or low-level unrest.
PHIVOLCS said ashfall was reported in Juban and Casiguran.
Hygiene kits, water, water containers
Meanwhile, he said the Department of Health has distributed hygiene kits, water, and water containers.
“Ongoing pa rin yung distribution sa Juban, no? But anyway, just to emphasize na napakaimportante na our people are protected from the impact of the ashfall,” he said.
(The distribution in Juban is ongoing. But anyway, just to emphasize, it’s important that our people are protected from the impact of the ashfall.)
Duque advised individuals to refrain from wearing contact lenses, avoid going out of their residences, and ensure that their windows are covered with items that would filter the ashfall such as wet blankets.
According to the Health secretary, local frontliners are also monitoring the situation in evacuation centers.
“Dahil alam mo naman pag dating sa evacuation centers, ‘yung hawaan malakas ‘yung possibility niyan kasi halos tabi-tabi na naman ang mga tao dyan. So we continuously remind them of the health protocols that we have already put in place,” he said.
(Because, you know, the possibility of transmission is high when it comes to evacuation centers. So we continuously remind them of the health protocols that we have already put in place.)
Asked if outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte will visit, Duque said there is a possibility.
“Yeah, maybe that’s why we’re going there. Immediately after this I’ll fly to Davao city and get our presidential directive if he decides to go there. We all will go there. Immediately if the president’s judgment calls for it,” he said.
Earlier in the day, PHIVOLCS said a total of 29 volcanic earthquakes have been monitored in Bulusan Volcano in the past 24 hours.
PHIVOLCS prohibited entry into the four-kilometer-radius of the Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and entry without vigilance into the Extended Danger Zone (EDZ).
PHIVOLCS Director and Science Undersecretary Renato Solidum Jr. on Monday said the danger zone in Bulusan has been extended to two more kilometers. — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA News
