MAYON PUFFS ASH ANEW

LEGAZPI CITY — Minor ash explosions occurred anew at the summit of Mayon Volcano early this morning indicating sign of heightened unrest which could lead to a possible major eruption, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs)

“The ash explosion around 5:32 am today occurred at the summit crater of Mayon Volcano (13.2576 N, 123.6856 E) lasting for about one minute,” said resident volcanologist Eduardo Laguerta.

Laguerta said that the explosion produced a brownish ash column that rose to a maximum height of 600 meters above the crater and drifted to the northeast direction.

Phivolcs has already issued today a 24-hour advisory to local authorities and residents of areas surrounding the volcano on the current abnormal activity of the volcano.

The ash explosion today occurred exactly a month and 13 days after its first ash explosion on September 15.
According to its latest bulletin issued 8:00 AM today, the institute said that its seismic instruments recorded eleven (13) volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours.

Steam emission was at moderate level creeping down slope towards southwest direction. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) emission rate was measured yesterday at 250 tonnes/day. Crater glow was not observed last night due to poor visibility.

The institute also noted Mayon has since Tuesday blowing ashes.

Residents living near the slopes described hearing what they said was a “thud” followed by a whitish cauliflower like plume above the crater..

The minor explosion, meanwhile, has prompted Albay Governor Joey Salceda, chair of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC), to direct local disaster managers to be on 24-hour alert and prepare to evacuate residents if things got worse.

“The explosion is a minor one and Alert Level 2 remains in effect over the volcano,” Phivolcs noted.

The institute strongly recommends that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the volcano and the 7-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeast flank of the volcano remain off-limits to human activities due to the threat from sudden explosions and rock falls from the upper slope.

The institute also warned that active river channels and lahar prone areas in the southeast sector of the volcano should also be avoided as life-threatening mud flows because ash and other loose volcanic deposits may be washed out during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall.

Laguerta furthermore explained, “We still cannot raise the alert level to status 3 because we have yet to check if there is a new lava deposit at the crater and the scheduled aerial survey on Tuesday was cancelled due to thick clouds over the summit area.”

But the volcanologist admitted that if in case the intervals of ash explosions draw closer and closer, the institute might recommend raising status to alert level 3 which would mean that Salceda has to evacuate some 30,000 residents living along the 7-km EDZ. “We can’t predict yet when it will erupt but the possibility is always there. (MALoterte, PIA V)


MARICULTURE PARK OPENS IN MASBATE CITY

MASBATE CITY—The opening here of a fish raisers’ park will give the entire province of Masbate long-term benefits in terms of food security and investments and livelihood opportunities, officials said.

Masbate City Mayor Socrates Tuason led Wednesday last week the ceremonial launching of Masbate City Mariculture Park (MCMP), a 200-hectare, P5-million facility that would be assembled on Masbate Bay for the production of high-priced marine products such as grouper, red snapper, milkfish and edible sea weed.

The first of its kind in the province and probably the biggest in the region, the facility is somewhat the equivalent of an industrial park on land such as the export processing zone in Cavite.

The MCMP is the other half of Masbate Fish Complex (MFC) that houses an ice plant, cold storage, and blast freezing and processing facilities adjacent to a port for fishing boats.

Together, the MFC and MCMP have accomplished Tuason’s medium-term fishery modernization program that has propelled the industry as the city’s flagship under its Coastal Resource Management Program (CRMP).

In a statement, Tuason said construction of mooring systems and amenities has begun with four cages serving as demos on production. As soon as completed, the structures will be up for lease to corporations, cooperatives and individuals who will operate in large, medium and small scales.

He said the money-making power of mariculture in Masbate Bay has already been proven by the initial structures operated by Crown B Farms, in which each 10 meters by 10 meters floating cage yielded between eight and 10 tons of milkfish or grouper. Thus, a hectare of mooring system with 24 cages is on a par with 12 hectares of traditional fishpond in terms of production.

He said the fish processing plant at the MFC was also being upgraded to the standards of United States and European Union, the prospective markets for products from the mariculture park.

Illustrating how will the global markets raise the returns of an investment in mariculture several notches higher, the mayor cited the prices red grouper and milkfish.

He said while red grouper is offered here at P350 per kilo, selling price to European and Asian markets is high as P1,400 a kilo. On the other hand, the price of milkfish which hovers between P100 and P120 per kilo in the local market is on the average P700 more per kilo in the US market.

Tuason said that because Masbate is endowed with rich coastal resources, the city is taking the direction of mariculture for more livelihood and revenue.

The thrust has the legislative backing of Vice Mayor Allan B. Cos and the city councilors, on top of the technical and funding support from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. (EADelegado, PIA Masbate)


4Ps SECURING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN

MASBATE Province — Parents would always want their children to be safe. Even if, accidents would always be around no matter how guarded your kids are and parents would always take precautions.

This is the reason the parent-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of barangay Morocborocan in Monreal town here built a fence along the cliff by the sea.

“Pag gabi po kasi nakakatakot dumaan kasi hindi mo alam kung saan ka aapak at kung saang direksyon” (It is frightening to walk here at night because you don’t know where to step and to what direction), said Lenie Rodriguez, a parent leader.

“it is very dangerous for the children at night and especially when there is no electricity,” she related.

Aside from building fences, they also built cottages that will not only serve as their meeting place, but also a place to rest for the community folks.

“Ito po ang naisipan naming gawin na community project para naman hindi lang puro bigay sa amin ang gobyerno, kundi kami rin ay nakakapagbigay tulong din sa iba, di man sa pamamaraan ng pagbibigay pera, pero sa pangangalaga naman sa kapakanan ng ating mga kalooban” (This is what we decided to do as a community project, so that it would not always be the government helping us, but for us to also help others, not through money but through taking care of our children),” she added.

This is one of the community projects of different 4Ps beneficiaries have done. Under 4Ps, beneficiaries should not only comply with the given conditionality but also make certain community projects or participation that will benefit not only their members but all the residents of the community.

With this, they are being practiced to participate in different social activities that would empower them and help them survive life. (MZVillagomez, 4Ps IO-DSWD/PIA)



TASK FORCE SETS UP "OPLAN UNDAS" IN BICOL

LEGAZPI CITY — Security measure have all been set in time for the observance of the All Saints and All Souls’ days on November 1 and 2, respectively, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

P/Supt. Eliciar Bron, PNP Bicol spokesman, said the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Department of Health (DOH), PNP, Philippine Army, and civic organizations have joined forces to implement measures dubbed “Oplan Undas” to ensure security and provide assistance to motorists returning home to the six provinces of Bicol.

Bron said that the inter-agency Oplan Undas Task Force will put up, checkpoints, assistance centers, police and military visibility in vital points and installation along major highways, ports, terminals, malls and cemeteries across the region in a 24-hour basis.

Policemen and military personnel will be deployed to beef up the existing police and military personnel in the different localities to maintain peace and order during the annual religious tradition observed throughout the country.
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Bron stated that police and military personnel including civilian law enforcers are on full alert during this period.”

The task force will also provide traffic, security and medical assistance, among others, to commuters coming from other regions and provinces who are taking their vacations for the All Saints and All Souls’ days.

Assistance centers will also be set up in all private and public cemeteries, with police personnel and “tanods” to check and ensure that any kind of liquor, firearms and any bladed weapon sneak through inside the cemetery. (MALoterte, PIA V)


CWC FEATURES “WICKED WEEKEND” FOR THE HALOWEEN

PILI, Camarines Sur — A unique experience for children, dubbed “The Gore House Workshop” will highlight the array of activities in the three-day “Wicked Weekend” festivities at the CamSur Watersports Complex here commencing on Saturday, October 31.

Participants in the event will have a taste of the unheard craft of blood making, zombie art, and slime experiments, which will be a whole new experience for those who dare to venture into newly-fangled endeavours this Halloween Season.

Trick or Treat will also be conducted after the event to give the participants an opportunity to experience the popular western tradition.

The “Wicked Weekend” experience slated until November 1 coincides with the 3-day Asian Wakepark Championship, an international competition in extreme watersports at the CWC to be participated in by top athletes in the sport.

The festivities will kick off with the Body Painting competition on Day 1 of the festivities while a number of other theme parties are also clocked in on the succeeding days such as Hallow’s Eve Costume Party on October 31, and the Walk with the Stars and Hollywood Legends on November 1.

The festivities aim to maintain the province’s standing on the pinnacle of tourism in the Philippines and Asias Watersports capital in line with Gov. LRay Villafuerte’s vision of raking in more progress to the province. (ANDujar, MMEC/PIA)