More troops deployed for Taal relief operations

MANILA, Philippines — The military deployed more troops to help evacuees in Batangas and Cavite displaced by the explosion of Taal Volcano as Army troopers repacked relief goods and the Navy sent teams to assist in the evacuation of residents.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said soldiers have been helping the national and local governments in the evacuation, rescue and relief operations for the past week. 

Zagala said troops assisted in repacking at least six truckloads of goods for Taal evacuees after the military received the goods donated by citizens through the different Landers Superstore branches in Metro Manila.

He noted that there has been an outpouring of donations from various citizens since the Landers Superstore branches accepted relief goods at their stores and website. 

The effort was launched after the company donated P675,000 worth of goods that was able to help around 200 families in Batangas. 

Zagala said the Army provided trucks and troops to the company to ensure the quick repacking and distribution of goods to the evacuees.

With the help of actor and Army reservist 2nd Lt. Matteo Guidicelli, Landers pledged to donate more goods and also help in gathering donations. 

“The Philippine Army is glad to extend its support to private individuals and entities whose benevolence helps ease the situation of those currently suffering from Taal’s unrest. At this time of calamity, our forces, both regular and reserve, are working hand in hand to deliver the services our countrymen needed,” Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay said.

On the other hand, the Navy deployed its Disaster Risk Reduction Teams (DRRT) to Batangas to help affected communities.

The 32 units from the Manila-Cavite area were fielded in the Batangas area to aid thousands of Filipinos affected by the Taal Volcano eruption as they were tasked to utilize all available assets for relief operations.

The Western Mindanao police force will also deploy policemen from their reaction unit to help relief operations in Batangas.

“Should it be necessary we have readied our reactionary forces for deployment,” said Brig. Gen. Froilan Quidilla, Police Regional Office 9 director.

Newly appointed Philippine National Police Director General Archie Gamboa directed police units to prepare augmentation forces to assist in disaster and relief operations.

Quirino province deployed members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office to help the Batangas and Cavite evacuees.

Quirino Gov. Dakila Carlo Cua said yesterday that his administration is ready to extend assistance to provinces affected by Taal Volcano.     

Cua, president of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines and national chairman of the League of Provinces, urged all local government units in the country to join hands in giving aid to Batangas. 

The South Korean government donated $200,000 to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to provide humanitarian assistance to some 45,000 evacuees.

South Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man met with PRC chairman Sen. Richard Gordon on Friday to turn over the assistance and express his sympathies to those affected by the ongoing volcanic unrest.

“The assistance is expected to contribute to the stabilization of the lives of the displaced people by providing relief supplies in a speedy manner to people staying at shelters due to the volcanic eruption,” the embassy said in a statement.

Free WiFi

Globe Telecom has provided free WiFi connection at the Libreng Tawag and Charging centers in Batangas and Cavite. 

Globe is also extending its free and unlimited GoWiFi internet service in Ayala Malls Serin, Solenad 1,2,3, Robinsons Tagaytay and Robinsons Lipa.

The firm is also stepping up relief efforts to reach more communities affected by the ongoing explosion of Taal Volcano even as it invites its customers to donate their Globe Rewards points to Rise Against Hunger to purchase meal packs for the evacuees.

So far, Globe was able to send relief packs consisting of food, water and essential toiletries to various relief centers in Batangas and Cavite.

The company also joined hands with ABS-CBN Foundation’s emergency humanitarian assistance program Sagip Kapamilya in serving 546 families or 2,730 individuals with relief goods. The families have taken shelter in Barangay San Antonio, Sto. Tomas, Batangas and Barangays Banay Banay and Sto. Toribio in Lipa, Batangas.

Globe also encouraged its customers to make their Globe Rewards points more meaningful by donating them to Rise Against Hunger (RAH) via the Globe Rewards app until Feb. 15. Proceeds will augment RAH’s meal pack distribution and relief efforts for severely affected areas.

Converge ICT Solutions, reputed to be the country’s leading “pure end-to-end fiber” internet service provider, delivered yesterday assorted relief goods worth P5 million to various evacuation centers in Batangas.  – With Janvic Mateo, Danessa Rivera, Jose Rodel Clapano, Ding Cervantes, Roel Pareño

He also assured Mandanas he would provide soonest internet connectivity to government-controlled disaster command centers monitoring developments in Taal-affected areas in Batangas.

Meanwhile, Pilipinas Shell said the firm’s Tabangao refinery in Batangas continues to operate safely while the 46 gas stations in the affected towns and cities have been designated as emergency response sites that would be open 24 hours a day, provide first aid, toilet facilities, free mobile phone charging and wind shield cleaning for vehicles that pass through ashfall.  -With Janvic Mateo, Danessa Rivera, Jose Rodel Clapano, Ding Cervantes, Roel Pareño