BOLBOK, BATANGAS CITY – Officials of the Liga ng Mga Barangay in Pampanga on Wednesday have extended financial, food and non-food assistance to victims of the recent eruptions of Taal Volcano.
Ex-Officio Board Member Renato “Gabby” Mutuc, league president and concurrent village chief of Barangay Balucuc in Apalit town said their league was inspired by the example of love, care and best practices initiated by Governor Dennis Pineda in helping the less fortunate volcano eruption victims in Batangas.
“We are here today because we were inspired by the governor. We saw his initiative to help. And that became our motivation and encouragement to do the same, “Mutuc said.
The Liga president disclosed that all members of the league voluntarily gave P 10,000 each to assist Batangueños displaced by the eruption of the Taal volcano.
Mutuc together with the other members of the league personally turned over all food and non-food items they have collected such as 5,000 pieces of 1-liter mineral water; 2, 000 pairs of slippers or flip-flops; 2, 000 sets of hygiene kits; and 25 cavans of rice aside from the assorted items donated by the Kapampangans.
On behalf of Batangas Governor Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas, Joselito Castro, head of Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) received the donations.
Castro showed his deepest gratitude for the continued support extended by the Kapampangans to the Batangueños.
“Mula kay Governor Delta hanggang sa lahat ng bumubuo ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan at iba pang mga Kapampangan volunteers na tumulong. Taos puso po ang pagtanaw namin ng utang na loob sa lahat ng tulong na ibinigay ng Pampanga sa Batangas,” Castro told the members of the league.
Castro also disclosed that the local government of Batangas is still asking assistance from all sectors to help in the recovery and rehabilitation efforts of the provincial government for the affected communities.
“Para sa mga gusto pang tumulong, though na rinealign na natin ang pondo, meron pa rin tayong pangangailangan sa mga gamot, food items, at volunteers para magbigay ng psychosocial treatment, “he furthered.
It can be recalled that Pampanga was the first province that immediately extended assistance to Batangueños, less than 24 hours after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued Alert Level 4 warning of an imminent hazardous eruption in Batangas.