Lorenzana: No need for foreign aid yet amid Taal activity

Despite being open to foreign aid following the phreatic eruption of Taal Volcano, the Philippine government does not see yet the need to seek assistance from foreign countries, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Monday.

At a press briefing, Lorenzana, who is also the chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said the present situation was not as destructive as other previous calamities.

“Open naman tayo... siguro we’ll see kung sino mag-offer ng aid dahil sa tingin ko naman, hindi naman masyadong ano ito like ‘yung nangyari sa mga earthquake na nagkakamatayan na,” Lorenzana said.

“Ito hindi naman eh. Hindi naman very violent na  eruption. Let’s see in the coming days kung kinakailangan nating humingi ng aid from the foreign countries... Kayang-kaya naman ng OCD, marami pa tayong resources...” he added.

Latest report from the NDRRMC stated that a total of 5,458 families or 24,508 individuals were affected by the volcanic activity. Of that number, more than 15,000 people are being catered at evacuation centers.

Lorenzana said the Office of Civil Defense and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are ready to provide food and non-food items to evacuees.

The PHIVOLCS has been monitoring the activity of Taal Volcano, which remains under Alert Level 4.

PHIVOLCS warned that the volcano’s activity was not yet over because of the persistent earthquakes and lava fountain observed in the area.

The local government of Batangas already placed its area under state of calamity. — RSJ, GMA News