The Danger Zone
For now, Fernandez said they will still resort to “maximum persuasion” to convince residents to move to safer ground.
A total of 148,514 people are currently taking shelter in evacuation centers due to Taal’s eruption, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told CNN Philippines’ Balitaan that 3,734 people from evacuation centers have fallen sick due to ailments like acute respiratory infections, hypertension, diarrhea, flu-like illnesses, eye irritation and skin lesions.
Some local governments in Batangas had allowed evacuees to return to their homes during window hours, but the DILG has ordered local governments to strictly keep residents from entering the danger zone at all times.
Taal Volcano has been on Alert Level 4 since January 12, signalling an imminent explosive eruption within hours or days. Volcanic activity appeared to have weakened in the past days, but government volcanologists warn that a powerful eruption is still possible as there are signs that magma is still moving up from underneath the surface.
The Evacuees
Thousands of families were displaced and sought refuge in evacuation centers in Cavite, Laguna, and even Quezon for an indefinite period of time.
The volcano has been on Alert Level 4 since Sunday night, as state volcanologists warned said that a “hazardous” eruption may occur “within hours or days.”
With an imminent hazardous eruption adding to the evacuees’ concern.
The Donations
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also stated that there are 5,000 family food packs and sleeping kits on the way for distribution to the evacuation centers. The DSWD and the Department of Health (DOH) handed a combined total of ₱4.9 million (US$96,656) worth of assistance to the affected residents in Calabarzon. Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla declared the province under a state of calamity.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año directed the governors, mayors and local chief executives of Central Luzon, the National Capital Region and Southern Tagalog to convene their disaster risk reduction and management councils and instantly activate their incident management teams, network operations centers and other disaster response teams. The Department of the Interior and Local Government tasked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to deploy their disaster incident management task forces, reactionary standby forces and search and rescue units to the affected areas, while the Bureau of Fire Protection were tasked to assist the PNP and local government units in the mandatory evacuation of affected residents. Año also urged the public to donate basic necessities to the victims through the local government units. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy personnel have been dispatched to help the victims of the Taal volcano eruption.
COOPERATION BLOGGING 