Humihingi ng “patience at stamina” si Albay 2nd district Representative Joey Salceda mula sa government agencies na tumutugon sa pre-disaster relief at evacuation efforts sa Albay dahil sa pag-aalburoto ng Bulkang Mayon.
Ayon sa kinatawan posibleng abutin ng buwan ang paghihintay sa aktwal na pagputok ng bulkan.
“Historically, the scenarios are 45, 90, or 110 days. It could, of course, get even longer than that. This will be a waiting game. Until an explosive eruption happens, or the alert level goes down, we can’t really do much other than evacuate and wait. So, this will really require stamina and patience. I am sure President Marcos and the national government will have the patience to see this through,” pahayag ni Salceda.
Dahil naman dito, maliban sa relief goods para sa evacuees ay kailangan rin paghandaan ang tugon sa epekto nito sa ekonomiya.
Halimbawa nito ang cash for work program at iba pang economic displacement support mula Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Ngayon pa lamang kasi, nasa 5,000 magsasaka na ang apektado ng paglilikas at increased volcanic activity.
Maaari din aniyang madagdagan pa ang bilang ng mga evacuees at umabot ng 9,829 pamilya o katumbas ng 37,100 na indibidwal.
Kaya’t mangangailangan din aniya sila ng pangmatagalang suportang medikal, hygiene, malinis na tubig at police presence.
“…Apart from evacuation and relief support, we will need support with economic displacement. Cash-for-work will be crucial, because we will also need manpower to clean and maintain evacuation centers,” paliwanag ni Salceda.
“Secretary Gatchalian was the very first head of agency to assure us that they can manage a protracted situation. And we are very thankful. We welcome President Marcos’s visit because this situation will require more than just food relief. This will also require economic displacement support from DOLE, medical, hygiene, and psychosocial support from DOH, police presence, emergency and water provision from DILG, among others,” dagdag ng kinatawan. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
