By Raydes Barcia
Legazpi City—Two days after Mount Bulusan inSorsogon suddenly exploded, government and private organizations in Bicol are workingtogether to provide aid for families displaced by the volcano’s phreatic explosionon Sunday.
Leo L. Quintilla, DSWD regional director in Bicol ordered the Quick Response Team to initiate a call for donations of supplies needed by the affected population in Sorsogon province affected by the sudden explosion of Mount Bulusan on Sunday morning.
The official asked for potable water and canned goods where donors can drop-off donations at the Disaster Response Management Division of DSWD located at Sutherland, Embarcadero deLegazpi, Legazpi City.
The DSWD regional officer is continuously coordinating with its social welfare and development team in Sorsogon and local social welfare and development officers for the status ofthe affected families.
Evacuees affected by Mt. Bulusan eruption in Juban town received relief augmentationfrom DSWD Bicol today.
Quintilla said that the department transported 1,000 Family Food Packs (FFPs) and 158 sets of hygiene kits for evacuees in Juban town affected by the volcano’s explosion.
Data shows that 170 FFPs and 85 sets of hygiene kits (out of 1,000 FFPs and 158 hygiene kits amounting to P202,769.20) have been distributed in coordination with local government unit (LGU)Juban. The remaining reliefsupplies will serve as prepositioned goods in case of additional evacuees.
Based on the latest data of disaster response operations and monitoring center in Sorsogon province there are 85families (311 individuals) inside one evacuation center in Juban. There are 3,280families affected by ash fall in 11 barangays in the municipalities of Jubanand Irosin.
DSWD Bicol has been coordinating with its regional partner agenciessuch as the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Office of Civil Defense (OCD)for logistical concerns during delivery of relief goods.
Police Brig. Gen. Mario A.Reyes, PNP Bicol regional director created the Reactionary Standby SupportForce (RSSF) from the regional headquarters unit in response following the explosionof Bulusan volcano.
The RSSF are ready to bedeployed to assist the distressed residents in the towns of Juban, Casiguranand Irosin in Sorsogon, the Bicol top cop said.Reyes also directed the Sorsogonpolice provincial office to provide assistance in the evacuation of the affectedindividuals.
While food packs, water and other essential items were distributedin partnership with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and ManagementOffice, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine Army.
“We are all set in extendingmeans to extend help and assistance with our kababayan in Sorsogon. We are alsoconsistently coordinating with our partner agencies to monitor the latestupdates with regards to the status of Mt. Bulusan to effectively address the current situation”, Reyes said.
Volunteers of President-electFerdinand Marcos Jr., led by Engr. Devar Robrigado, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan chairman and Partido Federal Albay chapter vice chair also sent aid to evacuees displaced by the phreatic eruption of Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon province.
Robrigado’s group provided food packs worth 100,000 and distributed it to displaced families in affected communities at Barangay Puting Sapa, Juban town.
The Kilusang Bagong Lipunan volunteersalso provide a water purifier truck that can provide 4,000 liters of clean waterand is currently servicing the affected residents of Barangay Puting Sapa in Juban.
Volunteers of Vice President Leni Robredo also provided food ration to 100 families of Barangay Buraburan,Juban town.
The Solid Leni Bicol Sorsogon chapter provided rice, water, cannedgoods, noodles, face masks and toiletries.
The Philippine Red Cross in Albay led by Rose Rivero, chapter chairman is also preparing for relief assistance for displaced and affected families of the Bulusan volcano eruption. Rivero said that the PRC will also provide hot meals for affected constituents.
Currently, Mt Bulusan is still on Alert Level 1, indicating low level of unrest the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned.(Raydes Barcia)