VARIOUS government agencies have assured the provision of assistance to families affected by the unrest of Taal Volcano.
In his report during President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People Address on Tuesday evening, March 29, 2022, Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said they have prepositioned P7 million to aid around 1,561 affected farmers and fisherfolk.
He said the funds will be used to procure inbred seeds, glutinous corn, vegetable seeds, and tilapia fingerlings, which will be distributed to the farmers and fisherfolk if the need arises.
“Kung sakali po na magkakaroon po ng destructive volcanic eruption, nakahanda po ang Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka ng mahigit sa P200 million out of the quick response fund po natin ngayong taon, Calendar Year 2022, para po magbigay po ng additional na mga ayuda sa atin pong apektadong magsasaka at mangingisda,” said De Mesa.
He said that for now, they are yet to receive any report on the damage incurred by the agriculture and fisheries sector following the activities of the Taal Volcano.
For his part, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they will offer 10-day jobs to the affected individuals.
“So dahil dito, Mr. President, ang (the) immediate response ng (of) DOLE ay ‘yung bibigyan sila ng trabaho (is to give them jobs) for 10 days and then give them a salary based on a minimum wage on that region,” Bello reported to Duterte.
“Ang (The) minimum wage sa (in) Region IV is P400 a day, so they will work for 10 days, we will give them P4,000 for 10 days work. Iyon po ang aming maibibigay agad (That is what we can immediately give),” he added.
Bello said he also instructed their finance officer to preposition around P50 million to P100 million in case further assistance is necessary.
In its update, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said around 5,000 individuals or 1,000 families were displaced following the volcano’s unrest.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año s aid the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) have deployed close to 600 emergency vehicles to assist in the relief operations.
Año said 527 fire trucks, 22 rescue trucks, 23 ambulances, and seven watercraft have been prepared while emergency medical service personnel and search-and-rescue retrieval teams are on standby for contingencies.
"The PNP also deployed its own search-and-rescue retrieval teams consisting of 2,716 personnel. This is aside from the reactionary standby support force which is around 553 personnel," he added.
Since the start of the volcano's unrest on March 26, members of the Regional Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) of the Police Regional 4A (Calabarzon) have been on standby to augment rescue and relief operations, particularly in the towns of Agoncillo, Laurel, Balete, Talisay and Cuenca in Batangas.
Police officers have also been deployed in evacuation centers to ensure peace and order and to make sure health protocols are observed.
The concerned local government units earlier said the food and non-food items will be distributed to the affected families.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also provided relief items.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has suspended classes in 19 schools within the high-risk zones to ensure the safety of the teachers and students.
DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said some schools were being used as evacuation centers.
The Department of Trade and Industry said there should be no price increase among the basic commodities in the affected areas.
Over the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said it has recorded four volcanic tremors that lasted around two to five minutes at the Taal Volcano. (SunStar Philippines)