By Charissa Luci-Atienza Leaders of the House of Representatives on Thursday expressed readiness to develop a comprehensive rehabilitation plan to help the municipalities and cities in Batangas, Cavite, and Laguna affected by Taal Volcano’s phreatic eruption. House of the Representatives (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO) La Union Rep. Sandra Eriguel, chairman of the House Committee on Social Services said she is willing to work with the House Committee on Disaster Management chaired by Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez to map out a "disaster-resilient and sustainable" rehabilitation plan. "As Chairperson of the House Committee on Social Services, I believe that we have to take a proactive approach. In this line, I am willing to take part in any action to develop a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate the areas affected by disasters including those affected by the Taal Volcano eruption particularly the families who have lost their homes and livelihood," Eriguel told the Manila Bulletin in a Viber message. She said the Second District of La Union "sympathizes with those affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano and prays for the safety of everyone." Eriguel, who is also a doctor, also cited the need to educate the children on disaster preparedness, saying that it is "key" to safety and survival in times of disasters. "The eruption of Taal Volcano should serve as a wake-up call that natural calamities should be taken very seriously. In a country like ours, where occurrence of natural calamities is very usual, there is a need to educate our children on disaster preparedness as early as possible," she said. "With the brunt of super typhoons constantly hitting our country and the impending "big one" earthquake, disaster preparedness is key in ensuring safety and survival," she added. On Tuesday, Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones, chairman of the House Committee on Tourism, vowed to support the Torres-Gomez panel in developing a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for the severely affected municipalities and cities by the January 12 volcanic eruption. "The Committee offers full cooperation and assistance with the endeavors of the Committee on Disaster Management towards the rebuilding and rehabilitation of the affected areas," Aragones said. Speaker Cayetano has directed the Torres-Gomez panel and other relevant Committees in the House of Representatives, including the Aragones panel, to develop a rehabilitation plan for the Taal Volcano eruption victims. He said Congress can focus more on planning for the rehabilitation efforts after Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) announced that prolonged eruption of up to seven months could be the worst case scenario. “We need to collectively develop for short-term and long-term plans to restore and rehabilitate the affected areas to reinvigorate tourism and business in the affected provinces the soonest time possible,” he said. Aside from the Aragones panel, Cayetano also involved House Committee on Agriculture and Trade in the development of the rehabilitation plan. Taal Volcano remains on Alert Level 4. Read more: Taal alert level 4 up after phreatic eruption, P74.5-M damage to agriculture as Taal unrest continues – NDRRMC, 12 towns, 2 cities in Batangas under mandatory evacuation