Many Taal evacuees being treated for coughs, fever

Many Batangas residents displaced by the eruption of Taal Volcano and are staying in various evacuation centers are getting sick with flu, cough, and fever due to the effects of the ashfall, according to Chino Gaston's report on Balitanghali on Friday.

Authorities, however, said their conditions are not severe, and that volunteers are monitoring medicines and facilities for evacuees.

In Bauan Technical High School, displaced residents are welcome to a complete set of medicine as well as a medical infirmary.

"Cough and colds po talaga. Tapos sa pagtagal po dito sa evacuation center, kalimitan po talaga nag da-diarrhea na yung ibang pasyente natin," Nurse Mary Grace Velasquez, from the Department of Health, said.

Meanwhile, a 13-year-old kid was hit with an anxiety attack the week of the eruption and was brought to the hospital for observation.

"Parang nag-panic siya kasi the other, several nights ago, nung limindol na, ang origination ay sa Mabini. Kasi medyo malakas po dito, ipinalabas namin 'yung tao, kaya siguro 'yung iba ay talagang nag-panic," Bauan Sangguniang Bayan Secretary Noel Bautista said.

Free wifi and cable television also helped in easing the worries and boredom of displaced residents.

Aside from their health, the provincial government of Batangas is also looking into the food supply and the relocation of an estimated one million evacuees.

"Iisipin natin, pagkain, P200 bawat isa na 'yan. Isang araw, isang, tao, P200, so P200 million araw araw," Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas said.

According to Mandanas, a permanent relocation site is already available for the evacuees, especially the displaced residents of Taal Volcano Island.

On January 15, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said President Rodrigo Duterte has approved of the recommendation to declare the Taal Volcano Island as "no man's land."

As of Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said that 346,244 individuals in the provinces of Batangas, Quezon, Laguna, and Cavite have been affected by the Taal eruption.

Of the number, 137,538 evacuees are taking temporary shelter in 488 evacuation centers while 144,907 individuals are being served outside the centers. —Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK, GMA News