LEGAZPI CITY — Security forces have finally cleared the declared danger zones of hard-headed residents as Mayon Volcano continuously discharges lava and puffs out more ashes, sending bad news to displaced residents that they will not only spend a bleak Christmas but a gloomy New Year as well in congested evacuation centers.

Army Captain Razaleigh Bansawan, spokesman of Task Force Mayon, said a total of 100 people have already been forcibly taken out within the six-kilometer and eight-kilometer permanent and extended danger zones in Barangay Mabinit in Legazpi City as of Thursday morning.

This developed as Nacionalista Party (NP) standard bearer Senator Manny Villar is pushing for the permanent relocation of all residents living in the declared danger zones of Mount Mayon in Albay as a concrete solution for the repeated gloomy scenario of forcibly evacuating them every time the volcano rumbles.

At least 300 people were also moved out in four other barangays in Legazpi City, fetched by soldiers and transported to the nearby evacuation centers using military trucks.

“The areas were already cleared, these people belong to the 56 families which the President has ordered to be evacuated due to the threat posed by the Mayon Volcano,” said Bansawan.

“We have also sealed off those areas in order to prevent them from coming back. A number of soldiers will be posted there to man the checkpoint and conduct house to house check to make sure that no one is left behind,” he added.

Director Renato Solidum, head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said that they monitored 21 ash explosions since Wednesday afternoon, with the ash columns reaching as high as 1.2 kilometer above the crater.

Villar said placing the affected residents in permanent relocation sites away from the Mayon declared danger zones would not only ensure their safety but will also paved the way for the provincial government to save money that are usually being spent to feed them and provide their basic needs in evacuation center.

The senator made the reaction following his visit and distribution of noche buena items for 826 families in Bagumbayan Elementary School here.

“There should be permanent relocation but it is a little complicated because you cannot just relocate them, they should also be given jobs and source of income to feed their families,” said Villar.

Also, the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) began the distribution of Christmas Packages here for the families affected by the imminent eruption of Mayon Volcano.

Four other evacuation centers were visited by the PNRC officials and volunteers headed by PNRC chairperson Richard Gordon and PNRC Secretary General Gwen Pang.

Gordon’s running mate in next year’s polls vice-presidential aspirant and former MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando was also present in the giving of Christmas goods.

“We cannot prevent natural disasters, but what we can do is take action to alleviate human suffering and prepare the people for the worst,” Gordon said.

A total of 9,000 identified families received Christmas packages containing food for Noche Buena such as spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, spam, corned beef, powdered juice drink, sugar, coffee, candies and gelatin.

Water containers were also distributed by the PNRC as well as blankets and sleeping mats. “But if we focused on this problem, we can definitely come up with the best solution,” he added.

Noting the assessment that huge funds is needed to relocate the 9,946 families residing within the six-kilometer and eight-kilometer permanent and extended danger zones, Villar said the relocation could also be gradual, depending on the availability of funds.