By Raydes B. Barcia
Legazpi City —The provincial government of Catandaunes allotted P1 million budget assistance intended for displaced families affected by Bulusan volcano eruptions in Sorsogon province.
Catanduanes governor Joseph “Boboy” Cua said that as their leeway of extending gratitude to the people of Sorsogon for helping the Catanduganons two years ago when super typhoon Rolly pounded the island province, they are giving P1 million financial aid in Sorsogon.
The donation was approved during the Catanduanes Development Council meeting held on June 14, 2022.
“This is the province’s opportunity to give back to Sorsogon province as one of our donors after Typhoon Rolly’s onslaught in 2020,” Cua said.
Cua’s move allotting a P1 million pesos donation for the province of Sorsogon, which was affected by the eruption of Mount Bulusan was unanimously approved by the members of the provincial development council.
At least 10,707 families or 44,706 persons were affected by the Bulusan Volcano phreatic eruption. The highest number of families displaced by the volcano eruptions are the residents of Juban town with 8,187 families or 32,069 persons.
The Bulusan volcano erupted twice. The first steam-driven explosion occurred on June 5, a week after Bulusan erupted again on June 12 before dawn ejecting a voluminous ashfall.
The phreatic eruptions of Mount Bulusan on June 5 and June 12 generated at least P13.6 million agricultural losses in Sorsogon province, the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office in the Bicol Region reported.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology hoisted the alert level 1 of Bulusan Volcano following the two consecutive occurrences of steam-driven eruptions.
Phivolcs told the residents living within the 5 to 6 kilometers extended permanent danger zone not to venture within the area for precautionary measures as the restive Bulusan volcano may erupt anytime.