Gray skies are upon Albay as Mayon Volcano spews lava in another eruption at 5:45 P.M.
Hundreds of families in Albay are dependent on farming for their livelihood. But because of the volcanic activities during this week, most of the province is now covered in ashes. What used to be verdant farms and plantations are now just piles of gray matter. Work had been inevitably paused.
Still, the evacuees in Bariw National High School keep coming back to their farms to tend to their animals at least once a day. Some of their farms are located within the danger zones, but still they go there every day to feed their cattle and bring them clean water.
At this point, it is still uncertain when these farmers can go back to their normal routine. After the volcanic eruptions stop, they would still have to restore their lands before they can raise crops once again – a process that could take months. Animals would have to be fed with commercial feeds since they would not be able to graze the land.
Coming back from evacuation would strip the farmers’ meager resources. Now is the time for us to come to their aid.
As of this writing, our disaster response team has already given out relief packs to some of the farmers in Camalig. We have also been able to distribute 7,000 masks and provided 43 people with health check ups and needed medicines.
We are still accepting cash donations for Disaster Relief Mayon.
Kindly go to http://www.staging2.obphil.com/home/disaster-response-programs/
or contact us at +632 477-7802 to 08 to learn more.