The Taal Volcano Eruption and the Bauan Relief Mission

Residents of Agoncillo, Lemery, Talisay, Balete, San Nicolas and all communities surrounding the shoreline of Taal Lake were alerted to depart immediately, January 12, 2020, due to imminent eruption of Taal Volcano. More than 13,000 families heeded the warning leaving all their belongings behind; unprotected homes and abandoned livestock with only clothes on their backs and small personal items. Those with private means of transport (mostly tricycles) and government support vehicles conveyed evacuees to public school buildings and churches transformed into evacuation centers. Schools and churches filled up quickly in towns considered safe zones, causing a shortage of basic necessities such as food, clothing, humane living conditions, and unsafe health conditions.

National/local governments joined hands in providing assistance but most impressive is the overflowing provisions coming from the private sector of society. Abundant food supply, medicines, used clothing and hygienic supplies started flowing but more significant is the demonstration of compassion and attention coming from all sectors of society.

On ground zero of the evacuation centers, talks of gratitude for the outpouring support are heard coming from the evacuees and Barangay personnel who have acted as their temporary guardians. The cold concrete floors on their backs suddenly become bearable to sleep on with a sense of assurance that their fellowmen will not forsake them.

However, the influx of evacuees continue to arrive in overpopulated evacuation centers, forcing the supervisors to redirect them to family homes willing to take them in. This creates an issue of supply distribution. The Punong Barangay in charge of the Bauan Public High School housing over 2000 evacuees admits that he is very concerned about re-directing supplies he receives in his jurisdiction to individual homes also caring for evacuees for fear of being accused of smuggling goods for profit. Individual donors do not care much to support the individual home evacuation centers, suspicious of their existence. This is now the dilemma being faced by our evacuation center administrators.

Lastly, the Rotary Club of Manila donation was greatly appreciated at the BAUAN EVACUATION CENTER, Barangay AS-IS, Bauan, Batangas.