Velasco, together with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Senators Bong Go, Bato de la Rosa, and Francis Tolentino, Representatives Naealla Bainto-Aguinaldo, Maitet Collantes, and Bambol Tolentino and Tagaytay City Mayor Agnes Tolentino distributed sleeping mats, blankets, water, biscuits, canned goods and ready-to-eat meals to close to 3,000 residents temporarily housed in various evacuation centers set up in Tagaytay City and Cavite.
The evacuation centers are in Tagaytay City Integrated School (584 evacuees); Department of Health Rehabilitation Center in Tagaytay City (1,300 evacuees); Tagaytay Science Camp (511 evacuees); and Castanos Lyos Elementary School (284) and Bailen Elementary School (211 evacuees—both in General Emilio Aguinaldo in Cavite.
Thousands of residents from the hard-hit Batangas province and nearby Cavite and Tagaytay City have fled their villages after Taal Volcano spewed red-hot lava, ash and pebbles. The government has made plans to evacuate more for fear of a bigger and more hazardous eruption.
Aside from helping the residents who were forced to abandon their homes, properties and livelihood, Velasco said rescue operations would also focus on saving animals left by their owners at the height of the evacuation.
Velasco brought a team from Marinduque’s Animal and Wildlife Rescue to save and treat animals affected by the eruption, in cooperation with the Province of Marinduque headed by Governor Presbitero Jose Velasco Jr.
“Kami po ay makikiisa at tutulong sa gagawing pagsagip sa mga hayop sa lugar na apektado ng pagsabog ng Bulkang Taal,” said Velasco, one of the legislators pushing for the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience.
Various photos and videos have surfaced on various social media platforms, showing dogs, horses, pigs and other pets left by their owners in haste to flee from the violent eruption of Taal Volcano.
According to Dr. Josue Victoria, head of the Animal and Wildlife Rescue of Marinduque, his team has a solid track record in rescuing and saving animals in distress.
