Refuge or harvest? Albay farmers torn between safety, saving crops amid Mayon ashfall

ALBAY, Philippines—Thousands are fleeing Mayon’s 6-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), but for Albay’s farming families, evacuation is only half the battle. Caught between the threat of volcanic eruption and the total loss of their livelihood, many are risking their lives to return to ash-covered fields to salvage what remains of their harvest.

Vilma Navata, 55, has tilled the soil of Barangay Anoling in Camalig, Albay, alongside her husband for decades. She shared that amid the heavy ashfall on Thursday, January 8, her husband risked a return to their fields, fearing that volcanic dust — and potential looters — would wipe out the harvest they had labored over for two months.

“My husband came with me to the evacuation center, but he went back to the farm earlier. He went back specifically for our crops. If no one is there, people will think the owners are gone and they’ll steal them or the ashfall would destroy all of them. We would have nothing left to harvest,” she said in Bicol. 

Recurring dangers

The Navatas are no strangers to this ordeal. Vilma shared that they have faced Mayon’s wrath countless times, yet they choose to remain in their village because their only livelihood depends on farming. (READ: Mayon unrest displaces over 3,000 residents in Albay)

“We always experience this whenever there’s an eruption; we’ve been through it so many times. We stay because our livelihood is there. My husband is hardworking when it comes to planting and harvesting, but now Mayon has disrupted us again,” she added.

The same dilemma is shared by Emily Burce from Buang, Tabaco City. While she and her six children stay at a covered court used as an evacuation site, her husband remains behind to guard their crops and livestock.

“My husband visits us here, but he stayed behind at the house because of our animals and crops. Our livelihood is severely affected; those crops are our only source of income to support our children,” Burce said.

While eager to follow government evacuation orders, Burce explained that her husband is compelled to return to their house to ensure they have a livelihood to return to.

Agricultural loss

In 2018, Mayon’s lava and ash caused nearly P166 million in agricultural damage, destroying over 36,000 metric tons of crops and affecting 8,294 farmers. Farmers fear the same thing will happen in 2026. 

With Mayon currently spewing ash and lava that threaten nearly 12,000 hectares of rice, vegetables, and corn, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Bicol has kickstarted an emergency response. The agency aims to minimize losses and help farmers salvage what remains of their labor.

Amid the ongoing distress, DA-Bicol has assured affected farmers that immediate assistance — including crop cleaning equipment, livestock evacuation support, and direct produce purchasing — is underway.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Government of Albay, through the Albay Veterinary Office (AVO), has ordered the mandatory evacuation of livestock within the danger zone. Alongside the order, the AVO released specific guidelines to ensure the orderly transport and safety of the animals.

“Due to the current Alert Level 3 status of Mayon Volcano, which indicates the possibility of minor lava flows and continuous ashfall, the AVO reminds all livestock owners to remain prepared and take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of their animals,” the office said in a post. 

Mayon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3 after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded one volcanic earthquake and 162 rockfall events as of Thursday. Despite the high frequency of rockfalls, the agency said that raising the status to Alert Level 4 is still unlikely. – Rappler.com