Batangas has not faced food shortage since the eruption.
Image: Batangas PIO Facebook Page
With the entire Luzon on extended enhanced community quarantine, local governments are doing everything to provide the needs of their residents. Thankfully, this has not been a problem for Batangas City. Although a tragedy, the Taal eruption that happened only a few months ago has served as a sort of “dry-run” for the province, helping it and its residents cope with and prepare for the COVID-19 threat.
Batangas was placed under a tough situation when the Taal Volcano erupted last January 12, 2020. The tragedy caused some residents to lose their homes, livelihood, and even their pets. However, food and medicine donations came flooding in not long after the Taal eruption. This has helped severely affected residents store adequate food. Batangas also received aid worth millions from the national government and private sectors.
Up until now, the food supply in Batangas is still stable thanks to the numerous donations that poured in after the eruption. The province has enough supplies to feed all its residents, as well as those who are currently stranded following the closure of ports to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas mentioned that the province has enough centers to house stranded passengers as well.
The province was also able to construct a newly built hospital composed of 5 new buildings with more than 20 private rooms, a separate emergency area, and a residence for caregivers who will be assigned there. The frontliners in the province have also been provided with vehicles that can transport them to their respective hospitals and centers. Despite having enough food, Mandanas said that medical facilities in the province have inadequate supplies to respond to COVID-19, but he will ensure that they will make use of what they have.
Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Southern Luzon.
