Malacañang confirms P30-M more PCSO aid for Albay

FILE: Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. ( YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA— Malacañang on Tuesday said the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) had approved the request of President Rodrigo Duterte for an additional PHP30 million for the people adversely affected by the Mayon Volcano eruption.

The amount is on top of the PHP20 million initially given by Duterte to the provincial government of Albay for relief operations.

“I will confirm that in additional to PHP20 million cash handed by the President when he visited Albay, the PCSO has also approved a further PHP30 million to Albay,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.

Roque stressed that the total assistance given by national agencies to Albay in addition to cash from Duterte and the PCSO had amounted to PHP130.498 million.

Duterte first mentioned his plan to ask for an additional PHP30 million from the PCSO when he was in Legazpi to personally assess ongoing disaster operations amid Mayon Volcano’s eruption.

The eruption has sent thousands of people to various evacuation shelters in six towns and three cities of Albay province.

At present, Alert Level 4 remains in effect over Mayon Volcano and the public is strongly advised not to venture into the 8-kilometer-radius danger zone.

Authorities also urged Bicolanos to be vigilant against pyroclastic density currents, lahars and sediment-laden stream flows along channels draining the edifice.