President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to urgently assess and respond to the needs of communities affected by the recent volcanic activity at Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon province.
In compliance with the President’s directive, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian spearheaded immediate relief operations. A total of 20,000 family food packs have already been delivered to the province, with additional supplies strategically prepositioned in anticipation of further disruptions. Mobile kitchens have also been deployed to evacuation centers to provide hot meals for displaced families.
Mount Bulusan has recorded a series of phreatic eruptions since April 28, 2025. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has since maintained Alert Level 1 over the area, signifying low-level unrest with the possibility of sudden steam-driven explosions.
The initial eruption occurred at 4:36 a.m. on April 28, releasing a 4,500-meter-high ash plume and triggering pyroclastic density currents that reached as far as 3 kilometers from the crater. A second eruption was recorded at 7:43 p.m. on April 29.
According to the latest DSWD report, approximately 15,625 families—or 78,184 individuals—have been affected by the volcanic activity. Evacuation centers have been established in the towns of Juban, Irosin, and Casiguran to shelter residents forced to leave their homes due to ashfall and other volcanic hazards.
PHIVOLCS continues to closely monitor the volcano’s activity and advises the public to stay alert and follow safety guidelines. Residents are strongly urged to steer clear of the 4-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone around Mount Bulusan due to the threat of sudden phreatic eruptions.
In a separate move to support the public during this time, the government has announced free rides on the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems from April 30 to May 3. The initiative aims to ease the burden on commuters amid ongoing emergency operations.
Government agencies remain in close coordination to deliver aid, monitor the situation, and ensure the continued safety and welfare of affected communities.