Traffic builds up on SLEX as good samaritans ferry Taal relief goods

Heavy traffic was reported along the South Luzon Expressway over the weekend due to the large number of vehicles, both private and government, ferrying relief goods to areas affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano.

According to Victoria Tulad's Sunday report on 24 Oras Weekend, private and military vehicles threaded their way through the heavy traffic along the Sta. Rosa and Calamba exits of the SLEX.

Traffic remained heavy from Sta. Rosa to Nasugbu, as the government had implemented window hours for vehicles to enter the towns of Laurel and Agoncillo, both of which had been locked down due to the dangers from the volcano.

For its part, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) discouraged well-meaning citizens from just handing out relief goods to people by the roadside.

"Dini-discourage natin 'yan, kasi hindi natin magagarantiya na 'yung mismong inaabutan nila eh talagang biktima," explained NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal.

Timbal instead suggested that donations be coursed through the government.

"Ang gagawin ng NDRRMC, iko-connect tayo sa provincial government na magtatakda ng evacuation center na pupuntahan ng magsasagawa ng relief operation," Timbal added.

Among the much-needed relief items were bottled water, ready-to-eat food, medicine, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, and portalets.

The latest available government data valued damage to agriculture and livestock from the Taal eruption at P3 billion.

The damage covered the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, and Laguna, affecting a total of 22,472 families or 96,091 individuals -- 16,174 of whom are taking temporary shelter in evacuation centers.

An Alert Level 4 was raised over Taal Volcano since the phreatic eruption last weekend, the alert signifying that a hazardous eruption was "imminent." — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News