A gigantic undertaking

PEOPLE concede that addressing the many needs, including employment and medical, of residents affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano in Batangas is, without doubt, a gigantic undertaking.

But it is certainly reassuring to note that President Duterte is spearheading the rehabilitation efforts, vowing to look for ways to ensure that the lives of affected residents would return to normalcy.

In fact, the tough-talking Chief Executive led the ceremonial distribution of calamity assistance to the families affected by the Taal Volcano eruption at the PUP Campus in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

“The President’s directive is always to secure their safety. So, necessarily all the appropriate agencies will respond to the directive,” according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

The highly-articulate spokesman said “palaging iniisip ni Presidente ‘yung safety ng mga kababayan natin. Kung kinakailangan (ngang) maglagay ng pondo roon (ay) maglalagay si Presidente.”

Last January 20, President Duterte called on members of Congress to speed up the passage of the proposed P30-billion supplemental budget for areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.

The budget would be used to help the thousands of displaced residents, who have been allowed to return to their residences following the lowering of Taal Volcano’s alert status to Level 3.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s decision to lower the alert status paved the way for the return of displaced residents to their homes outside the seven-kilometer danger zone.

Like other volcanic countries throughout the world, impoverished Philippines, which is situated in the so-called “Ring of Fire” in the Pacific, experiences hardships caused by volcanic activities.

Thus, we commend President Duterte for stating, quite clearly, that he would take care of the mushrooming needs of individuals affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.