Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday assured the public that its Field Office (FO)-Calabarzon is ready to provide the needed assistance for any eventuality amid the increasing seismic activities in Taal Volcano.
According to Philippines News Agency, on Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that a Taal eruption may be triggered due to the increase in real-time seismic energy measurement (RSAM) and the low level of emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the volcano since June.
Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD's Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said the disaster response teams both in the Central Office and FO-Calabarzon are actively monitoring the situation in coordination with concerned local government units (LGUs) and other national government agencies.
"This is among our initial response as soon as the Phivolcs warned of a possible Taal volcano eruption. Mapa-preparation or post-disaster response man 'yan (Be it in preparation or post-disaster response), we make sure that our lines with LGUs are always active because they also serve as the first-line of disaster responders in their respective area of jurisdiction," Dumlao said as quoted in a news release.
"We do not wish for the eruption to occur, but we are making sure that we are well-capacitated in case it happens. Gaya nga po ng laging ine-emphasize ng ating Pangulong (As always emphasized by President) Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the government should be quick and omnipresent before, during, and after any type of disaster or emergency."
To date, the Calabarzon field office has 207,408 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) and 13,178 non-food items (NFIs) prepositioned in various storage facilities. The NFIs consist of hygiene, kitchen, sleeping, and family clothing kits.
The Disaster Response Management Bureau's (DRMB) Quick Response Team (QRT) members, along with emergency equipment, are also on standby and ready for immediate deployment, if needed, Dumlao said.
She said the National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB) also ensures the continuous replenishment and availability of FNIs for resource augmentation to DSWD field offices, as necessary.
"Sa kabila ng kaliwa't-kanang relief efforts natin sa iba't-ibang panig ng bansa na apektado ng mga active weather systems, hindi bumababa ang family food packs natin nationwide under 3 million. Sa ilalim ng direktiba ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian, tuluy-tuloy ang pag-poproduce at pagre-replenish natin sa mga production hubs natin (Despite the various relief efforts of the agency in different parts of the country affected by active weather systems, the number of FFPs prepositioned nationwide doesn't go below the 3-million level. In line with the directives of Secretary Gatchalian, continuous production and replenishment activities are being done in our production hubs)," Dumlao said.
She also reminded residents living near Lake Taal to remain vigilant and alert on the possible eruption and to cooperate with their respective LGUs to ensure their safety.
