MANILA (UCAN): “We need more places to accommodate the thousands still holed up in cramped evacuation centres,” Father Jerome Secillano of the Nuestra Senora del Perpetuo Socorro parish in Manila, said as he appealed for more and better shelters for victims of the eruption of Taal Volcano in the Philippines.
He levelled criticism at local the authorities of the city of Tagaytay—situated on a ridge overlooking the crater lake in which Taal, one of the world’s smallest yet deadliest volcanoes, is situated—for setting up private spaces for couples to be intimate. Inside the rooms, where couples can spend hours together after securing permission from authorities, are a mattress and bottled water.
Father Secillano pointed out that better and additional evacuation centers will serve a greater purpose than “love nest” rooms.
“(The) last thing you would think about during a calamity is intimacy,” he said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that as of January 22, a total of 71,717 families or 282,021 individuals were affected.
Of that number, about 39,000 families, or 149,000 individuals, were in 493 evacuation centres.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has maintained an Alert Level 4, meaning a “hazardous explosive eruption” is possible in hours or days.
The agency said all areas within 14 kilometres of Taal should be evacuated. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs issued a situation report stating that an estimated number of 459,300 people were within danger zone.
Meanwhile, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, the retired archbishop of Manila, expressed his gratitude to people who sent help to communities affected by the disaster.
“We want to thank everyone for helping the evacuees,” the cardinal said, noting that the spirit of Bayanihan, or helping each other, is still very much alive among Filipinos. “It is really nice that many are visiting and helping,” he said.
Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa, also noted how people are still smiling despite their situation. “This is the Christian life,” he said, adding, “We will rise again.”
Taal volcano continues to be active after it erupted on January 12 spewing ash over a large radius reaching as far as Metro Manila and forcing the closure of Ninoy Aquino International Airport. This was followed by hundreds of volcano tectonic earthquakes.
Recent activity has been characterised by a steady emission of steam and infrequent weak explosions.
At the time of going to press, emissions have generated ash plumes of between 500 and 1,000 metres high and have dumped ash on areas southwest of the main crater.
