AFP, MANILA: The Philippines has stockpiled food supplies in case of evacuations after a volcano emitted ash and smoke six times in recent weeks, officials said yesterday. In addition to the emergency food packs, authorities are closely watching communities near Bulusan volcano 390 kilometres  southeast of Manila, said presidential spokesman Herm-inio Coloma. The latest emissions came on Friday, with two other eruptions earlier last week.
“The government continues to monitor the behaviour of Mount Bulusan... so we can safeguard the welfare of about 34,000 affected residents in 22 villages and five towns,” said Coloma.
The government volcano monitoring institute said that so far, the emissions have been caused by groundwater mixing with hot rocks inside the 1,565-metre  volcano.