2020 experience sends residents scampering from Taal eruption

After their houses were destroyed during the 2020 Taal Volcano eruption, residents living around the volcano on Friday again packed their belongings and scampered to safer ground, GMA News' Raffy Tima’s reported on “24 Oras.”

“Pinalilikas po at Level 3 na po ‘yung bulkan. Papunta po sa Rosario Compound,” Valentin Mendoza, an evacuee, said.

(We were asked to evacuate since the volcano is now at Alert Level 3. We’re going to the Rosario compound.)

Barangay Buso-Buso in Laurel, Batangas is one of the areas most affected by the eruption in January 2020. The ash, which once covered the area, almost resembled a small hill at the side of the road.

However, though some residents have evacuated, Johnny Sarmiento opted to stay and monitor the situation.

“Magkakaroon ng lindol po… pagnag abot-abot ay talagang aalis na,” he said.

(If there will be an earthquake… then I will leave.)

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it aims to first deliver food and tents for the evacuees.

“Initially, we are looking at mga 10,000 to 20,000 family food packs na puwede naming i-push dito. Depende na rin ‘yun sa warehouse o kaya ‘yung pagtatayo namin ng mobile storage,” DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista said.

(Initially, we are looking at 10,000 to 20,000 family food packs that we could distribute. It also depends on the warehouse or the mobile storage.)

Meanwhile, the agency said it will also coordinate with the Health Department for medicine, face masks, and other supplies. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News