Albay: The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 5 (Bicol) has turned over protective face masks to the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) as part of preparedness measures for communities affected by ashfall from Mayon Volcano's continued unrest. In an interview, OCD-5 Director Bernardo Fortes Jr. stated that the agency has expedited the release of 10 million surgical masks and 160,000 N95 masks to support the provincial government of Albay.

According to Philippines News Agency, the distribution of masks is a response to the Mayon activity last May 2, which identified the need to protect the population from ashfall to address health concerns. The threat of ashfall events remains high due to the ongoing activity of Mayon. The primary affected areas include Guinobatan, Camalig, and Ligao City, while light ashfall recorded on May 31 also reached portions of Bacacay, Sto. Domingo, Tabaco City, and Malilipot.

Fortes mentioned that assistance might extend to other areas affected by the volcano's unrest, highlighting that disaster response is a shared responsibility among local government units, national government agencies, and stakeholders. 'The OCD operations center is open 24/7 to ensure that the needs of the people are met. We are particularly on standby and prepared as we monitor the continuing unrest of Mayon Volcano,' he added.

With the onset of the habagat season, the northern and northeastern portions of Albay are at risk of being affected by ashfall events. Although it is the southwest monsoon season, ashfall remains possible in other parts of Albay due to shifting wind directions. APSEMO head Oscar Robert Cristobal explained that the large allocation of masks provided by the OCD was based on the population and land area of each city and municipality in the province.

Cristobal emphasized that the focus would not just be on the eight LGUs under a state of calamity but also on the other 10 LGUs to ensure the protection of residents from the possible effects of ashfall. He expressed gratitude to OCD-5 officials for the swift release of protective face masks following the Mayon Volcano ashfall incidents last May. He added that the assistance is crucial in helping residents protect themselves from respiratory illnesses that may result from exposure to volcanic ash.