The Department of Health (DOH) said more than 3,000 people are still staying in evacuation centers following the recent volcanic unrest of the Taal Volcano.
"Base sa datos ng DOH nitong March 29, mayroong higit 1,000 pamilya o higit 3,800 na indibidwal ang naapektuhan sa Calabarzon (Based on DOH data as of March 29, more than 1,000 families or over 3,800 individuals were affected in Calabarzon)," said DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III during the “Talk to the People” program of President Duterte aired on Tuesday, March 29.
"Sa bilang na ito ay, mayroon po tayong 956 na pamilya or 3,460 na indibidwal ang nananatili sa 16 evacuation centers sa Region IV-A (Of the said number, we have 956 families or 3,460 individuals still staying in 16 evacuation centers in Region IV-A)," he added.
The DOH has already prepositioned medicines and other medical supplies to the affected areas, said Duque.
“Nag-preposition naman po ang inyong CHD -Calabarzon ng halos P1.09 million worth of health commodities gaya ng mga gamot at mga Covid-19 related supplies upang magamit sa atin pong mga (The CHD-Calabarzon has prepositioned almost P1.09 million worth of health commodities such as medicines and Covid-19-related supplies to be used in our) response operations," he said.
"Patuloy lamang ang ating ugnayan sa ating mga Centers for Health Development at local health units concerned upang makapagpaabot ng agarang serbisyo sa mga apektadong pamilya sa IV-A (We continue to coordinate with our Centers for Health Development and local health units concerned to be able to provide immediate services to the families affected in Region IV-A)," he added.
Duque also urged the residents near the Taal Volcano to not let their guards down and heed advisories of the authorities.
“Nananawagan ang DOH sa ating mga kababayan na nakatira malapit sa Taal Volcano na manatiling alerto at sumunod sa mga anunsyo ng inyong lokal na pamahalaan, at syempre kasama diyan po ang ating DOST-PHIVOLCS (DOH calls on our citizens living near the Taal Volcano to remain alert and follow the announcements of your local government, and of course that includes our DOST-PHIVOLCS),” he said.