Camarines sur: Camarines Sur's Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has been placed on red alert due to the upcoming 2026 Pe±afrancia Festival, as well as increased vigilance for African swine fever (ASF) and air quality in the province.
According to Philippines News Agency, PDRRMC chair and Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. stated that response clusters for law and order, search and rescue, health, environment, emergency telecommunications, and road clearing are on standby. For the Pe±afrancia Festival, local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMCs) have been instructed to activate their 24/7 Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) until September 21, ensuring the availability of response personnel, communication equipment, and other necessary resources.
Local DRRMCs are also tasked with continuously monitoring traffic, road, and public safety conditions, focusing on national highways, major roads, rerouting areas, and identified convergence points affected by festival activities. They must coordinate with barangays and local agencies on traffic and crowd management, emergency response, and readiness of teams, ambulances, rescue equipment, and other resources for deployment.
In response to ASF, the Provincial Agriculture Office, with support from relevant government agencies and local government units, is intensifying monitoring of reported cases, affected areas, animal health concerns, and other developments requiring immediate action. The latest report from the regional agriculture office indicates that seven municipalities and one city-Nabua, Iriga City, Pili, Libmana, Sipocot, Ragay, Del Gallego, and Pamplona-are affected by ASF.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Health Office has been directed to continuously monitor air quality conditions and provide appropriate health advisories and recommendations based on prevailing conditions. Local DRRMCs must ensure the availability of essential resources like medicines and masks and implement health measures based on air quality advisories from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) - Bicol, particularly for vulnerable groups.
On Friday, EMB-Bicol reported that the latest ambient air quality monitoring results from Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations in Naga City and Pili indicate that particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and PM10 concentrations are within the good category, reflecting generally good air quality conditions at both monitoring stations.
