President Rodrigo Duterte may provide additional funding for the construction of more evacuation centers around Taal Volcano’s danger zone, according to a statement by Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Eduardo del Rosario.

In addition, he confirmed that Duterte is planning to visit Batangas today, March 4, to check if the evacuation hubs in the volcano’s vicinity, namely those located in Santa Teresita, Alitagtag, and Mataasnakahoy, are compliant with design standards.

In a radio interview last Sunday, del Rosario stated, “Sabi niya gusto niya makita para makita kung yung ginawa namin ay in accordance with the design standard na siya ang nagbigay sa ’min at nag-approve last 2018 (He said he wanted to see them to check if they were constructed in accordance with the design standard he approved in 2018)”.

Del Rosario added that the other purpose for the president’s visit is to ensure additional funds, stating, “Actually, isa sa intention ng ating mahal na Pangulo kaya siya pupunta dun ay maglaan ng pondo, additional funds, para sa pagpapagawa (one of the intentions of our dear President to visit is to provide additional funds)” .

“Ang sabi kasi ni President Duterte nung last Cabinet meeting, ‘mayroon pa akong sobrang pera, gusto ko ibigay, para kung itong evacuation centers gusto ko madagdagan pa (President Duterte said ‘I have excess funds that I want to give in case I want additional evacuation centers)’,” he shared.

Each evacuation center can accommodate 150 families of four or five members and consists of separate restrooms for men and women, shower rooms, prayer rooms, kitchens, clinics, and a storage room to receive supplies.

Of the 392 evacuation center projects nationwide initiated by the Department of Public Works and Highways since 2016, 299 are finished while 92 are still under construction. Only one has yet to start construction.

In total, the evacuation center projects cost approximately PHP 14.3 billion.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology placed the Taal volcano under Alert Level 3 on March 26.

With Taal Volcano Island as a permanent danger zone, Bilibinwang and Banyaga villages in Agoncillo; Boso-Boso, Gulod, and Bugaan East villages in Laurel, Batangas province are all considered high-risk locations due to the possible hazards of ash-flow and volcanic tsunami should stronger eruptions occur.

Photo Credit: Facebook/RodyDuterte