The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) deployed its 6X6 vehicle together with 2 ambulance units to the municipalities of Laurel and Agoncillo after Alert Level 3 was raised on Taal Volcano on July 1.
PRC Chairman and CEO Senator Richard Gordon said that there were also a total of 36 volunteers and staff were mobilized.
“The Philippine Red Cross is always ready, in fact we have prepositioned some of our supplies, assets and lifesaving equipment in the four branches of our Red Cross Chapter in Batangas,” Gordon said.
“Our experiences with disasters taught us the value of being prepared and how every second counts when lives are at stake,” Gordon added.
The PRC continues to assist as 2 teams for rapid disaster assessment and needs analysis were sent to the affected communities in Agoncillo and Laurel.
Likewise, first aid and welfare desk teams were established in identified evacuation centers.
The Red Cross continues to monitor the situation through its 24/7 Operations Center and the 143 volunteers on the ground who continue to report.
Food truck
Gordon also said that a food truck from the PRC National Headquarters is making its way to Batangas to provide ready to eat hot meals on wheels to those who are still in evacuation centers.
The PRC Chairman immediately deployed PRC’s Food Truck to provide hot meals to the affected residents of Batangas due to the recent volcanic activities.
PRC’s food truck will go around the affected cities in ten days, capable of serving 300 individuals per day. The food truck is part of the Welfare Services program “Hot Meals on Wheels” to provide ready-to-eat meals to people affected by disasters, calamities, and conflicts.
“Kaagad natin ipinadala ang ating Food Truck upang makapaghatid ng pagkain sa mga apektado na nasa evacuation centers [We immediately sent our Food Truck to provide food to those affected who are staying in evacuation centers],” Gordon said.
DOH warning
After the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the status of Taal Volcano to Alert Level 3, the Department of Health (DOH) reminded the residents near the volcano to wear mask and stay at home.
If there is a need to go out, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the person should also wear long clothes to cover their skin and goggles go protect themselves from the sulfur dioxide emitted by the volcano and ashfall.
The sulfur dioxide, she warned, may irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory system, “especially for people with asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema.”
“Nagbibigay tayo ngayon ng N95 masks para diyan sa mga tao near the [We have provided N95 masks to the people near] Taal volcano because this is more efficient. Mas kailangan nila nitong [They need this ] N95 mask to prevent inhalation ng ganitong [of this kind of] emission,” she added.
The DOH also reminded the residents to prepare their “Go Bag” containing a first aid kit, food packs, clothes, whistle, flashlight, and other important emergency items.