RESIDENTS affected by the phreatic eruption of Bulusan Volcano in Juban, Sorsogon have gone back home, a local official said on Wednesday, June 8, 2022.
Juban disaster officer Arvee Lodronio said each resident was given two food packs containing 10 kilograms of rice grains, canned goods, milk and coffee from the Department of Social Welfare and Development before leaving.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 406 individuals or 118 families were displaced in Juban due to the ash explosion of Bulusan Volcano on Sunday, June 5.
Lodronio said it is already considered safe to bring these residents back home as their houses are outside the four-kilometer danger zone of the volcano.
He said members of the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police will remain in the town for immediate response to any eventualities.
He said soldiers and policemen also helped the heads of each family who were allowed to go home first to clean their ash-riddled houses, roads and surroundings.
NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said residents are only allowed to go back home once their surroundings are clean from ashes, which are harmful when inhaled.
On Sunday, The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the alert status of Bulusan Volcano from 0 (normal) to Alert Level 1 (low-level unrest).
Over the past 24 hours, the agency recorded 11 volcanic earthquakes in the Bulusan Volcano. (SunStar Philippines)