Most persons displaced by the Taal eruption in January 2020 have returned to their homes but 1,057 families are still waiting for their permanent relocation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Friday, Feb. 4.
Based on the latest report of the DSWD Field Office in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), some families are still staying in transition houses supported by their concerned local government units (LGUs) and the provincial government of Batangas.
The DSWD said that 172 families are currently staying at the Talisay local government's motor pool and are waiting for the completion of the construction of their permanent houses.
While waiting for the approval of their permanent relocation, some 300 families are also staying at the Tent City in Balete, Batangas.
The DSWD said that 585 families from Ibaan, Batangas are also awaiting the approval of the relocation site where their permanent houses will be built.
"The affected families were provided food and non-food assistance worth more than P156 million. Of which, more than P43 million came from the DSWD, while more than P112 million came from concerned LGUs and other stakeholders," it noted.
In addition, the affected families were given emergency shelter assistance amounting to more than P19 million.
Meanwhile, the displaced families affected during the July 2021 Taal Volcano unrest have returned to their residences during the same month when the alert level was lowered.
They were provided with more than P16 million worth of assistance by the DSWD, concerned LGUs, and non-government organizations.