“Kapag kapwa Bicolano ang nangangailangan, hindi tayo naghihintay. Tubig ang pinakaunang kailangan— at narito tayo para magbigay. Magkakapatid tayo sa Bicol,” expressed Governor Luis Raymund “Lray” Villafuerte, Jr. in a social media post.
Following the recent volcanic activity of Mount Mayon in Albay, which blanketed several areas in thick ash, the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur led by Governor Villafuerte, acted swiftly to support its neighboring province. In close coordination with the Local Government Unit of Guinobatan, the CamSur team mobilized its Water on Wheels to assist communities struggling with the aftermath of the eruption.
From May 3 to 4, 2026, the Provincial Government deployed water lorries to deliver clean, potable water to the most heavily affected communities in Guinobatan, including the barangays of San Francisco, Travesia, Poblacion, Calzada, and Inamnan Grande.
“Pagbagsak ng ashfall, talagang zero visibility kami. Sa awa ng Diyos, mabilis din ang response ng mga agencies natin. Nagpapasalamat po kami sa tulong niyo dahil isa po ito sa mga needs namin—yung potable water aside dun sa flushing ng mga kalsada. Very thankful po kami na andiyan po kayo para magsuporta sa pangangailangan ng mga constituents namin. Malaking tulong ito kasi may shortage din talaga kami sa tubig,” thanked Guinobatan Mayor Ann Ongjoco.
For 63-year-old Josefa Mar Evangelio of Barangay San Francisco, the arrival of the water lorries was a moment of profound relief. Evangelio shared that even before the eruption, their community had been facing long-term water scarcity.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami nang marami. Problema po talaga namin ang suplay ng tubig. Salamat po lalo na ang layo-layo niyo pa, [nakarating po kayo dito]. Magagamit ko po itong [tubig] sa pangluto. Salamat kasi isa talaga ‘to sa basic needs ng tao sa pang-araw-araw,” said Evangelio.
By providing these essential resources, the Provincial Government helps alleviate the immediate health risks posed by ash contamination, ensuring that the people of Guinobatan can begin the process of recovery with one less burden to carry.
