CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Evacuees, who fled to the province from Lemery, Batangas, became emotional as they reminisced the help received from the Provincial Government of Pampanga during the Taal Volcano eruption.
Saturnina de Chavez, 67, is one of the evacuees who stayed with her daughter, Melicia de Chavez, in Apalit, Pampanga after the calamity was felt in Batangas.
“Kami ay takot na takot noong sumabog iyong bulkan. Talagang hindi namin maisip kung ano’ng gagawin namin, gawa nang panay ang pagyanig ng lupa. Umalis kami nang wala man lang dala na kahit isang piraso lang ng damit, tanging basang towel lang na tinakip namin sa aming mga ilong,” she said.
Saturnina, in an interview, expressed her gratitude to Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda for his immediate action in helping the distressed Batangueños.
“Higit po na nagpapasalamat kami, dahil talaga namang napakalaki ng kanyang itinulong sa amin. Pagkalapit namin, binigyan kaagad kami ng pagkain, hindi gaya ng ibang nilapitan namin,” she said.
Melicia, who sheltered four families in Apalit, Pampanga, was also in tears as she thanked the provincial government for the assistance it extended to her hometown Lemery, and other areas in Batangas ravaged by the said disaster.
“Taus-puso po akong nagpapasalamat kay Governor Delta para sa kagandahang loob na kanyang ipinakita, dahil kinabukasan pa lamang ng pagputok ng bulkan ay sumugod na kaagad ang kanilang grupo para tumulong sa mga nangangailangan sa lugar ng Batangas,” she expressed.
To date, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) lowered the alert level in Batangas province to two as the parameters showed “decreased unrest” since it erupted last January 12. —
JASMINE D. JASO