Mayon evacuees in need of food , aid
Enero 29-Pebrero 04 , 2018
ENTERTAINMENT 7
Mayon evacuees in need of food , aid
A non-government organization , the Tarabang para sa Bikol , Inc . ( TABI ), noted that evacuees complain of inadequate food supply . During the first week of evacuation , each family received only ten kilos of rice .
By RONALYN V . OLEA
MANILA — More than 55,000 people are taking shelter in 59 evacuation camps in Albay , Bicol since Jan . 15 after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology ( PHIVOLCS ) warned against Mayon Volcano ’ s eruption .
On Jan . 22 , PHIVOLCS raised the alert level to four , which means that hazardous eruption is imminent . Lava fountains measured as high as 200 meters . On Jan . 23 , two explosions were recorded . The country ’ s most active volcano has been emitting an average of 992 tons of ash per day for the past week .
Classes were suspended in 17 cities and municipalities in the provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur . A total of 11 international flights and 45 domestic flights were cancelled since Jan . 23 , according to the National Risk Reduction and Management Council ( NDRRMC )’ s latest update .
A non-government organization , the Tarabang para sa Bikol , Inc . ( TABI ), noted that evacuees complain of inadequate food supply . During the first week of evacuation , each family received only ten kilos of rice .
In its rapid assessment , TABI observed overcrowding in evacuation centers , with 20 to 30 families cramped in one regular sized classroom .
Some evacuation centers lack kitchen facilities , bathrooms and toilets . Inadequate hygiene supplies was also noted , according to TABI .
The NGO noted that while most evacuation centers have enough drinking water supply , domestic water supply is limited and those with small water containers are not able to store enough water .
Moreover , some evacuation centers are not safe from ash fall . According to the local Department of Health ( DOH ), 65 percent of their patients in the affected areas suffered from acute respiratory infection .
Officials from the Albay Provincial Agricultural Services estimated P160 million damage to farms due to ash fall .
Evacuees have no source of income to address nonfood needs like transportation , educational needs of students , and household supplies , TABI said .
The Citizens ’ Disaster Response Center ( CDRC ) and TABI are calling for donations for Mayon evacuees . Food , hygiene kits ( bath and laundry soaps , toothbrush , toothpaste , hand towel / wash cloth ) and cash donations for kitchen utensils are welcome . TABI ’ s Disaster Preparedness Committees plans to set up and manage hot meals kitchen in strategic evacuation centers .
In the past , evacuees stay in evacuation centers from two weeks up to four months .
Mayon had 51 eruptions in the past four centuries .
Año to police , fire , jail officers : Double pay means double the public service
QUEZON CITY -- Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año directed all police , fire , and jail officers to double their efforts following the recent implementation of the pay hike for the uniformed personnel .
“ Double pay comes double service to the public ,” Año said in a recent gathering held at the Department of the Interior and Local Government ( DILG ).
The official also urged all DILG uniformed personnel to instill in themselves the DILG ’ s brand of “ matino , mahusay , at maaasahan ” in serving and protecting the people .
" My goal as head of DILG is to cleanse the police , fire and jail ranks of bad eggs and make the DILG the best department in government . As part of the DILG , you must also conform to our brand which all DILG personnel know by heart ,” Año said .
" I would like to emphasize that under my watch , we will put the Philippine National Police ( PNP ), Bureau of Fire Protection ( BFP ), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology ( BJMP ) under a higher standard . Shape up or ship out !," he added .
President Rodrigo Duterte authorized the increase of base pay of military and uniformed personnel in the government and for other purposes with the signing of Congress Joint Resolution No . 1 this month .
Based on the joint resolution , a Police Officer I which is the lowest position in the PNP hierarchy now receives P29,668 , a 100 percent increase from the previous base pay of P14,800 .
The same amount of remuneration is also received on the first pay day of January 2018 for a Fire Officer I and Jail Officer I , the lowest positions in the BFP and BJMP ranks .
Along with the substantially bigger take home pay , Año urges the PNP , BJMP , BFP , and Philippine Public Safety College ( PPSC ) to step up their game really big time and be more committed in carrying out their respective roles in maintaining peace and order and ensuring public safety .
Double time for antiillegal drugs campaign
Año urges the PNP to ensure that the third round of implementation for Oplan Tokhang will no longer include rogue police officers in the illegal drugs operations to be conducted in close coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency ( PDEA ).
He said that double pay means that the PNP should also double its efforts to cleanse the ranks of police scalawags that tarnish the image of the entire police organization .
" I have directed PNP Chief Dela Rosa to ensure that police scalawags are not allowed to join and conduct house-to-house visitations and in any other Oplan Tokhang related operations ,” Año said .
He urged the public to immediately report to the DILG and National Police Commission ( Napolcom ) all illegal activities in order to help his office in the internal cleansing campaign .
Año also advised the BJMP to enforce more stringent and sustained measures in the Oplan Linis Piitan and other drives against illegal drugs and contrabands in jails .
Stricter measures for fire safety
Ano also ordered the BFP to enforce stricter measures to ensure fire safety at the business establishments like malls and other places of convergence for the general public .
“ Apart from the salary increase , the BFP now has additional fire stations , more fire trucks , and more modern firefighting equipment . It is now high time for us to give better services to our people ,” Ano added . ( DILG / EPC / JCP / PIA-NCR )