EU donates P42 million to Taal victims

MANILA, Philippines — The European Union has provided 750,000 euros or more than P42 million for residents affected by the recent eruption of Taal Volcano in Batangas. 

“This contribution will support the local government of Batangas and our humanitarian partners on the ground in providing crucial support to those who have lost their shelters, belongings and sources of livelihoods in the wake of the eruption of the Taal Volcano,” said Janez Lenar?i?, the EU commissioner for crisis management. 

“The EU stands ready to support the people of the Philippines and ensure affected people get protection and have enough means to survive through this difficult time and get back to their feet at the earliest possible,” he said.

The funding, coursed through the Spanish Red Cross, aims to deliver immediate assistance through the provision of emergency shelter and essential household items, such as mats and blankets, hygiene kits and access to clean water, the EU said in a statement. Psychosocial support services will also be provided, as well as child protection activities.

It is part of the Acute Large Emergency Response Tool (ALERT), which it uses to respond to large natural disasters where over 100,000 people or over 50 percent of the population are affected.

Depending on the type of disaster, the aim is to allocate funds within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of the emergency, the EU explained.

Taal Volcano, the second most active volcano in the country and located around 50 kilometers south of Manila, erupted on Jan. 12 and 13, displacing 376,327 people or 98,187 families.

It also left P3.2 billion worth of damage to agriculture in the provinces of Batangas, Laguna and Cavite, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has downgraded Taal’s alert level to 3, which means that sudden steam-driven and weak phreatomagmatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall and lethal volcanic gas expulsions may occur in areas within Volcano Island and nearby lakeshores.

PAF donates P1.7 million

Members of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) also donated part of their allowances to help Taal victims get back on their feet.

The PAF officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees donated their one-day subsistence allowance for the month of February, which reached P1.7 million.

Maj. Gen. Allen Paredes, PAF commanding general, handed over a check amounting to P1,781,460 to the provincial government of Batangas on Thursday.

Public Information Office chief Maj. Aristedes Galang said the amount would be used to acquire goods or equipment for long-term use of different evacuation areas. 

Paredes also paid a visit to the men and women of the Air Education Training and Doctrine Command to boost the morale and welfare of the troops based at the Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas and ensure their preparedness for any eventuality. – With Michael Punongbayan