LEGAZPI CITY,July 31 -- Low frequency quakes rocked Mt. Mayon and steam emission surged, an indication that magma is building up, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Friday.
Phivolcs flyspec instrument reported that the volcano emitted 915 tons of sulfur dioxide for the past 24 hours, indicating that fresh magma is developing in the volcano's vent.
Seismic instruments detected a significant increase of 20 volcanic quakes compared with the eight recorded on Thursday.
Of the volcanic quakes recorded, 16 were low-frequency and four were high-frequency earthquakes, Ed Laguerta, Phivolcs resident volcanologist, said.
Precise Leveling result indicated no significant swelling on the volcano edifice was noted and bulging at the Buang and Lidong lines remained at 5.0 mm.
There was no new intrusion of molten materials or magma to the surface, Laguerta added.
Crater glow was obscure due to heavy clouds yesterday but intensity remained at level 2 for the past two days.
Alert level 2 is still up over Mayon Volcano.
Phivolcs has strongly recommended that the 6-km Permanent Danger Zone, including the 7-km extended danger zones, be strictly implemented.
Disaster authorities led by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Joint Task Force Mayon held a Disaster Risk Reduction Stakeholders Summit here on Wednesday.
The summit was participated in by government and non-government organizations, business and civic groups.
The participants agreed to initiate a signature campaign pushing for the passage of bill which seeks to strengthen the country's disaster risk management.
To be known as the "Philippine Disaster Risk Management Act," the proposed measure aims to boost the country's disaster risk management capability by institutionalizing the National Disaster Risk Management Council (NDRMC).
Raffy Alejandro, OCD regional director, said the bill had been submitted to the House of Representatives and Senate during the 10th Congress but until now, it has not been acted upon.
The bill had been passed on second reading at the Upper and Lower House, but the immediate action on the proposed measure was overtaken by events, he said.
The bill was authored by Sen. Gringo Honasan at the Senate level and Rep. Ruffy Biazon at the Lower House.
Alejandro said the manifesto signed by the stakeholders would ask Congress to certify the bill as an "urgent" measure. (PNA)