Town in Taal danger zone seeks support for ‘adopt a family’ program

The local government of Mataasnakahoy, Batangas has sought the support of neighboring towns for an “adopt a family” program that would house residents who were evacuated from their homes due to the danger from a massive Taal Volcano eruption.

Interviewed on Balitanghali on Monday, Vice Mayor Jay Ilagan appealed for people with open spaces or storerooms in their homes to temporarily shelter Mataasnakahoy evacuees.

“Nakikiusap po kami sa aming mga kababayan sa iba’t ibang bayan na kung maaari po ay ampunin nila, kung sila ay may mga open space or bodega, baka puwede nilang pansamantalang patuluyin ang aming mga kababayan sa Mataasnakahoy,” said Ilagan.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, 1,696 locals or 426 families from Mataasnakahoy were currently in evacuation centers.

However, the town was within the 14-kilometer radius of the Taal Volcano’s main crater, which has been declared a danger zone.

Nine barangays of Mataasnakahoy had thus been placed under lockdown.

Ilagan said around 30 percent of Mataasnakahoy residents have remained in the town despite the forced evacuations.

The vice mayor meanwhile also appealed to his constituents to approach local authorities.

“Hindi namin 100 percent na ma-locate kayo,” he explained. “Magparamdam kayo sa inyong mga punong barangay o kaya ay magsadya kayo dito sa LGU ng Mataasnakahoy para ma-identify namin kung sakaling kami’y magpapadala ng tulong ay alam namin kung saan kayo pupuntahan.” — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News