The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) “is preparing now” to activate Task Group Taal to ensure that all-out assistance will be given to the areas in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) region badly affected by Taal Volcano’s unrest.

DSWD Undersecretary Felicisimo Budiongan, who leads the Disaster Response Management Group, disclosed the agency’s plan to breathe life into the task group, which was formed last year following Taal Volcano’s phreatic eruption.
“We are planning to activate the Task Group Taal of the DSWD upang magbigay ng suporta sa ating Field Office sa 4A sa kanilang paggawa ng response operations ( to give support to our Field Office IV-A in the conduct of their response operations),” he said in a public briefing.
He said the task group aims to ensure the orderly prepositioning of additional food and non-food items, and the immediate deployment of quick response teams (QRTs) to provide assistance in the response operations of the DSWD Field Office IV-Calabarzon and concerned LGUs.
The DSWD reported that on July 5, it deployed additional 3,000 hygiene kits, 5,000 sleeping kits, 5,000 family kits and 5,000 family food packs (FFPs) to Batangas Sports Complex, while 2,000 hygiene kits were delivered to Canyon Woods, Laurel, Batangas.
Meanwhile, the DSWD also expressed readiness to provide aid to local government units (LGUs) affected by Tropical depression “Emong”.
“As of the 6 p.m., July 5 report of the DSWD Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB), the DSWD Central Office and its Field Offices have more than P1.07 billion standby and stockpile funds,” it noted.
Of the total amount, P196.6 million has been allocated as standby funds, it said.
The social welfare agency said a total of 295,772 FFPs are strategically prepositioned nationwide.
“DSWD will continue to coordinate with affected localities to ensure that all affected residents will be provided with ample assistance,” it said.
Affected residents were urged "to remain vigilant and continue to heed the warnings of their LGUs to prevent untoward incidents."