Manila: Midday heat in Malilipot, Albay, often turns emergency shelters into ovens, forcing children to fan themselves with cardboard while parents seek the slightest breeze outside.
According to Philippines News Agency, for 36-year-old Rona Rubianes, a mother from Barangay Calbayog, a simple canvas structure has become a sanctuary. Following the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raising Mayon Volcano's status to Alert Level 3, Rubianes and 221 other families transitioned from cramped school classrooms to a newly established "Tent City."
"Our first day was difficult because of the heat, but we put blankets on the roof to cool it down," Rubianes said while adjusting her tent flap. "This is much better; we are okay here."
The move addresses a critical dual crisis: the need for dignified disaster housing and the urgent requirement to reopen schools. For weeks, the chalkboards of San Jose Elementary School and San Jose National High School bore witness to sleepless nights as up to eight families shared a single room.
"In the classroom, there were 34 of us. My children would sometimes be noisy and disturb others. Here, every family has its own tent. Sometimes I even call it home," Rubianes shared.
Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) Director Norman S. Laurio said the shift prioritizes safety without compromising education. "Our priority is to provide safe, decent, and comfortable temporary shelter while helping the community return to normalcy," Laurio said.
Building this "village" required more than just pitching canvas. Cash-for-work beneficiaries and local government workers laid gravel to prevent mud during rains and reinforced pegs against high winds. This infrastructure ensures that residents have reliable access to water, sanitation, and food packs provided by the DSWD.
While Mayon's summit glows with unrest in the distance, life inside the camp remains a testament to resilience. Rubianes now shares her space with only three families, including her sister and a person with a disability, a significant improvement in privacy and hygiene.
Uncertainty remains regarding how long Mayon will stay restless, but for families like the Rubianes, the "thin walls" of the tent provide a thick sense of security. "We are more afraid of what might happen at home while Mayon is in unrest. DSWD has provided for us since day one, and we will stay as long as necessary for our protection," she said.
