By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

ASH-COVERED. Residents of Camalig, Albay sweep thick ashfall from roads following recent activity from Mayon Volcano, including pyroclastic density currents, locally known as “uson,” recorded on May 2 and 5, 2026. Police frontliners across the province have been directed to strictly observe health and safety measures against respiratory hazards caused by volcanic ash. (Photo courtesy of the Facebook page of Mayor Caloy Baldo)

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has mandated strict health safeguards for all frontline personnel manning checkpoints and carrying out public safety operations in Albay to protect them from respiratory risks posed by heavy volcanic ash and sulfur dioxide exposure from Mayon Volcano’s activity.

The directive also covers police frontliners in Negros Island following the recent ashfall from Kanlaon Volcano, as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Regional commanders were instructed to provide high-filtration face masks and adequate hydration supplies to all ground units.

In a statement Thursday, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. emphasized that operational effectiveness depends heavily on the physical well-being of police officers.

“We have to look after the welfare of our personnel on the ground, especially those heavily-exposed to volcanic ash, being the frontliners of government response and assistance,” he said.

Police officers were among those deployed to clear roads in affected areas in Albay. While road-clearing operations have been completed, volcanic ash and particles have yet to be fully removed.

Aside from road-clearing duties, police personnel were also tasked with securing entry points to danger zones, conducting checkpoints, and carrying out other response operations that exposed them to daily ash inhalation.

The Philippine Space Agency earlier released a map showing that the May 2 ashfall from Mayon’s activity covered at least 8,544 hectares — roughly half the size of Quezon City.

Phivolcs said ashfall poses a health hazard because it is composed of fragmented volcanic particles measuring less than two millimeters in diameter.

Meanwhile, Nartatez said he has “explicitly prohibited” local police chiefs from conducting unnecessary inspections of humanitarian convoys to avoid delays.

“I also directed our local police commanders to refrain from conducting unnecessary inspections and immediately allow the passage of emergency responders as well as vehicles containing relief items,” he said. (PNA)