Arroyo goes straight to Albay after HK vacation

After being criticized for flying to Hong Kong while Mayon Volcano is threatening to erupt, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo went straight to Albay province upon arriving in the country Wednesday afternoon to visit thousands of families that have been evacuated there, a radio report said. Radio dzBB's Allan Gatus said President Arroyo proceeded to one of the evacuation sites to visit families displaced by the restive volcano. The President was accompanied by Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral and Albay Governor Jose Salceda. Earlier in the day, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Arroyo will return to the country hours earlier than her expected time of arrival on Wednesday noon to check on the situation in more than 40 evacuation centers in Albay. "President Arroyo will fly straight to Albay upon landing from Hong Kong this noon. She will personally look into the situation at the evacuation centers," Remonde said.

President Arroyo is also scheduled to meet with Salceda and officials from the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) to assess the situation in the area, Remonde added. An estimated 10,000 families living within the eight-kilometer danger zone have already been evacuated since Mt. Mayon showed signs of renewed activity since Monday last week. [See: Phivolcs jittery as Mayon shows more signs leading to 'big bang'] While thousands of Albay resident fled to avoid the looming disaster, President Arroyo quietly took a sidetrip to Hong Kong last Sunday after attending the Climate Change Summit in Denmark last week. [See: Grandma Arroyo flies to HK to be with grandkids] Palace officials defended on Tuesday Arroyo’s trip to Hong Kong, saying it was to fulfill a promised vacation to her grandchildren. [See: Palace justifies Arroyo's HK sidetrip] The President's critics, including Sen. Francis Escudero who is from the Bicol Region, chided her for her lack of sensitivity in proceeding to Hong Kong for a vacation. - with Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMANews.TV