MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Metro Manila mayors have agreed to provide financial and relief assistance to families affected by the ongoing eruption of Mayon Volcano.
The MMDA and local government units (LGUs) will pool funds amounting to at least PHP500,000 from each of the 17 cities and municipalities of Metro Manila to provide the needs of the residents in areas in Albay province which were affected by the volcanic eruption.
The resources will be derived from the respective disaster risk reduction management funds of the LGUs.
MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said the LGUs’ assistance would benefit victims particularly families who remain at different evacuation centers during an emergency meeting of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) Wednesday.
“Each LGU have committed to send five personnel to Albay aside from the MMDA manpower. This is a good opportunity to expose emergency responders in this mission,” according to Lim.
The MMDA and Metro Manila LGUs have likewise agreed to deploy its humanitarian contingent to affected areas that are devastated by the continuous eruption and lava emission of the volcano.
The deployment of emergency response personnel that will deliver relief goods, clothing, medicines, portalets/toilets, and water purifiers for the affected families is expected next week.
Some of the Metro Manila mayors have started sending relief assistance to affected LGUs since the eruption begun last month.
Around 23,399 families or 86,052 individuals residing in six municipalities were affected by the eruption according to a report of the MMDA Operations Unit.
A total of 17,137 families or 64,895 persons are staying at temporary shelters in 58 evacuation centers while 2,954 families or 12,169 individuals are staying with their relatives and friends in Camalig, Daraga, Guinobatan, Malilipot and Sto. Domingo in Albay.
The MMC, composed of the 17 mayors of the National Capital Region, is the policy-making body of the MMDA.
In attendance during the meeting were Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco, Las Pinas Mayor Imelda Aguilar, Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, Pateros Mayor Miguel Ponce III, Pasig City Mayor Robert Eusebio, Valenzuela City Mayor Rexlon Gatchalian, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, and Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto. (Aerol John Pateña/PNA)
