Camille Naredo

People enjoy a view of Mayon volcano from Quintinian Hills in Daraga, Albay on June 16, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

People enjoy a view of Mayon volcano from Quintinian Hills in Daraga Albay on June 16, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Mayon

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176881854273320230616-mayon-volcano-visitors-JC-14 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="People enjoy a view of Mayon volcano from Quintinian Hills in Daraga, Albay on June 16, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">People enjoy a view of Mayon volcano from Quintinian Hills in Daraga, Albay on June 16, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>ALBAY -- Teachers of Calbayog Elementary School, located inside the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of Mayon Volcano in Barangay Calbayog, Malilipot, are exerting extra effort to ensure that learning continues despite the ongoing evacuation of residents.</p><p>Teachers are currently working double time to distribute learning modules to students, some of whom are staying in evacuation centers while others remain in their homes outside the PDZ. </p><p>The school itself remains within the danger zone, posing continuing challenges to in-person classes and long-term safety.</p><p>Barangay Captain Gilbert Bolaños of Calbayog said he could no longer recall how many years the elementary school has been standing inside the six-kilometer PDZ. However, he noted that at 54 years old, he himself studied at the same school during his elementary years, indicating how long the school has been operating in a high-risk area.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/19/dswd-bares-social-protection-measures-for-evacuees-affected-by-ada-mayon-s-activities-1427">READ: DSWD bares social protection measures for evacuees affected by ‘Ada,’ Mayon’s activities</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>-- Relocation plans remain uncertain --</strong></div><p>According to the Department of Education (DepEd) Albay, plans to relocate Calbayog Elementary School have been stalled due logistical constraints.</p><p>DepEd Albay spokesperson Froilan Tena said the agency previously had a budget for the school’s relocation, but implementation depended on the local government unit identifying a suitable site.</p><p>&quot;Before pa since 2021, may budget na sana si DepEd. Ngayon nakadepende po ang DepEd sa konseho sa LGU kasi sila ang magbibigay satin ng location for the relocation of the physical school ng Calbayog na aalisin siya sa loob ng 6 kilometer danger zone and until now, unfortunately, wala pa tayong go signal to proceed,&quot; Tena said.</p><p>Tena added that the earlier funding is no longer available and that DepEd will need to source new funds once a relocation site is secured. He said the proposed site must be at least 50 meters away from the boundary of the six-kilometer PDZ.</p><p>He also noted that transferring the school to another barangay would not be an issue, citing similar relocations in the past and explaining that each school maintains its own institutional identification.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>-- Evacuees turn to livelihood training --</strong></div><p>As the evacuation stretches into its second week, many displaced residents say they are growing weary of prolonged stays in evacuation centers. Some evacuees have welcomed livelihood training programs, such as tocino and longganisa making, as a way to remain productive and prepare for possible income opportunities.</p><p>Shirley Bo, 59, an evacuee from Calbayog, said she enjoyed participating in the training, especially because cooking has long been her interest.</p><p>&quot;Pero Ma&#x27;am, maogma. Syempre nakanood, hilig ko man ang magluto. Dati naglilibot ako duman sa Calbayog na su ano baga ma&#x27;am, panira. Ta nasa ano kami, halos ngani sabi kalalooban na daa ito,&quot; Bo said.</p><p>(I was happy to learn because I loved cooking. I used to sell viands in Calbayog before the eruption.)</p><p>She said the skill would be useful once they are able to return home, especially if they have access to proper storage.</p><p>&quot;Iyo ma&#x27;am. Madali man lang maokdan. Di syempre gibuhon ko pag nag uli na kami duman. Pwede ko man itong i-ano ta may ref man kami na sadit. Pwede ko na itong i-ano. Digdi baga kaya dae man ito maiano ta syempre baga wara man kaming ref,&quot; said Bo.</p><p>(It is easy to learn, I will make longganisa and tocino in my house once we’re allowed to go home. I have a small ref at home. I cannot do it here because I need a ref for that.)</p><p>Nineteen-year-old evacuee Kyla Torillos said she joined the training mainly to learn new skills while waiting at the evacuation center.</p><p>&quot;Nung nalaman ko kasing may pa-training dito, sumali na po ako kasi boring naman po dito, wala namang ginagawa kaya sumali na rin ako para matuto na rin po,&quot; Torillos said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/18/dswd-extends-p8-4-m-worth-of-humanitarian-aid-to-mayon-evacuees-1859">READ: DSWD extends P8.4-M worth of humanitarian aid to Mayon evacuees</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>-- Temporary shelters, class arrangements --</strong></div><p>The local government of Malilipot is continuing to set up makeshift tents for displaced residents after the previous shelters were dismantled last weekend due to Tropical Storm Ada. Once completed, evacuees currently staying at San Jose Elementary School will be transferred to the temporary shelters to allow regular classes at the school to resume.</p><p>DepEd has arranged a shifting class schedule, with regular learners of San Jose Elementary School attending in-person classes in the morning, while learners from Calbayog Elementary School will attend in the afternoon.</p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>-- Mayon activity closely monitored --</strong></div><p>Although Mayon Volcano’s activity has slightly eased, concern remains among Albayanos, especially with the possibility of raising the alert level to Alert Level 4 if lava fountaining continues.</p><p>Veteran volcanologist Chris Newhall, who lived in Bicol for nearly two decades and has observed Mayon since 1978, said the volcano is unlikely to erupt violently like Mt. Pinatubo. He explained that Mayon is an open-vent volcano, meaning magma pathways remain open and do not easily plug.</p><p>&quot;Mayon is an open vent volcano. And what&#x27;s meant by that is that the molten rock, the magma inside the volcano, is typically deeper in the volcano it&#x27;s kind of plain or bodies like the shape of books I call it dikes,&quot; he explained.</p><p>Newhall said continuous magma supply keeps the conduit hot, preventing pressure buildup that could lead to catastrophic explosions, unlike what occurred at Pinatubo, a closed-vent volcano.</p><p>He also explained why lava fountaining occurred on January 13, noting that it happens when gas-rich magma reaches the surface.</p><p>&quot;It just means that the magma reaching the surface now is a little bit fresher and still has a little more gas,&quot; said Newhall.</p><p>Despite his assessment, Newhall cautioned that risks do not abruptly stop at fixed boundaries.</p><p>&quot;From a scientific point of view, the risk decreases gradually away from Mayon… If you want to be very very safe, you should stay quite far away,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>-- Evacuation preparations continue --</strong></div><p>More than 70,000 residents within a 7- to 8-kilometer radius of Mayon could be evacuated should Alert Level 4 be declared. The Albay provincial government said it is preparing evacuation plans, food and water supplies, health services, and sanitation facilities.</p><p>PHIVOLCS continues to closely monitor the activity of the Mayon Volcano.</p>

<p>Teachers of Calbayog Elementary School, located inside the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of Mayon Volcano in Barangay Calbayog, Malilipot, are exerting extra effort to ensure that learning continues despite the ongoing evacuation of residents.</p>

Teachers of Calbayog Elementary School, located inside the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of Mayon Volcano in Barangay Calbayog, Malilipot, are exerting extra effort to ensure that learning continues despite the ongoing evacuation of residents.

Teachers, evacuees adjust as Mayon unrest disrupts schooling and livelihoods in Malilipot

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Teachers, evacuees adjust as Mayon unrest disrupts schooling and livelihoods in Malilipot

Aireen Perol,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 19, 2026 06:34 PM PHT

Read More:

Mayon Volcano

Albay

Permanent Danger Zone

Calbayog Elementary School

education

Malilipot

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