The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday assured the public that the province of Sorsogon is ready to conduct the upcoming midterm polls amid the eruption of Mt. Bulusan.

A week after Mt. Bulusan showed increased seismic activity, the volcano erupted at 4:36 a.m. on Monday. Ashfall incidents were reported in the villages of Cogon and Bolos in Irosin and Puting Sapa, Guruyan, Buraburan, and Tulatula Sur in Juban.

In an ambush interview, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said Sorsogon's readiness for the upcoming polls "has not been disrupted so far by the recent activity of Mt. Bulusan."

"The [election officers] (EOs) of municipalities surrounding the foot of Mt. Bulusan-Irosin, Juban and Bulusan, reported no forced evacuation or use of any voting center as evacuation sites," Garcia told reporters.

"However, the EOs concerned are given instructions to coordinate closely with [Department of Education], [local government units], and Phivolcs for formulation of election-related contingency plan should there be an escalation of Mt. Bulusan activity," he added.

Following the phreatic explosion of Bulusan Volcano, its alert level has been hoisted from Alert Level 0 to Alert Level 1.