By Stacy Ang

MANILA — Senator Francis Tolentino said Monday that focus should now be geared towards recovery for those affected by the volcano’s latest eruption after Philvolcs downgraded the alert level for Taal Volcano from No. 4 to No. 3.

Lockdowns in some areas had also been lifted Sunday by Phivolcs.

On the first day of the session week following the lowering of Phivolcs’ alert level on Taal, Senator Francis Tolentino filed Senate Resolution No. 297 entitled “A Resolution Directing the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, In Aid of Legislation, and in the Exercise of the Senate’s Oversight Function, to Urgently Call on the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and Other Relevant Agencies to Formulate a Sustainable Taal Volcano Resettlement and rehabilitation Program.

When Taal Volcano erupted in January 12 of this year, Tolentino said the economies of the provinces of Batangas and Cavite, particularly those of the towns of Talisay, Malvar, Tanauan, Agoncillo, Santa Teresita, Cuenca, Alitagtag, Mataas na Kahoy, San Nicolas and the City of Lipa, have been greatly affected “with an estimated P6.6 billion, with agriculture and fisheries contributing to much of the losses at P3.17 billion.” 

But more than the economic losses, Tolentino said that based on the 2015 Census, no less than 907,664 resident of which more than 4,000 are in Taal Volcano Island, have been affected if not displaced by the eruption.

Figures provided by the Batangas Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council, indicate the numbers could be higher with about a million individuals being displaced, of which around 200,000 have been seeking refuge in evacuation centers put up in Batangas, Cavite and nearby areas.

But with the alert level now lowered, Tolentino said a resettlement and rehabilitation program could now be put into place with the DHSUD being the leads agency.

Tolentino said Section 5 I(e) of RA No. 11201 which created the DHSUD provides that the agency formulates a framework for resilient housing and human settlements as basis for the mechanisms for post-disaster housing and resiliency planning.

Further, Section 10.2 if the Implementing Rules and Guidelines of RA 11201 tasks the DHSUD to manage and oversee emergency post-disaster/post-conflict shelter recover or climate change adaptation and mitigation disaster risk reduction provisions and interventions.   PS Resolution No. 297 is co-authored by Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said lawmakers and policy-makers should start drawing up a comprehensive long-term plan for the rehabilitation of the province of Batangas amid the tragedy caused by the eruption of Taal Volcano.

Sotto said that while government had started implementing short-term strategies to address the immediate needs of residents affected by the eruption, these would not be enough to help the province get back on its feet again.

“We have to start pooling our ideas to rehabilitate Batangas. We need permanent solutions to resolve post-disaster concerns and help Batanguenos recover,” Sotto said.

The Senate President said the government should be ready to implement rehabilitation programs once Taal Volcano quiets down and experts declare that the threat of a hazardous eruption is 100 percent over.

Sotto highlighted the need to address issues on housing, infrastructure and livelihood, which he stressed will be the top 3 concerns of the provincial government of Batangas. (IAMIGO)