House tourism, disaster management committees to develop comprehensive rehab plan for Taal-affected communities
By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones expressed on Tuesday (Jan. 14) the readiness of the House committee on tourism to work with the House committee on disaster management, chaired by Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, to develop a comprehensive rehabilitation plan to assist the municipalities and cities in Batangas, Cavite, and Laguna affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.
Residents of Talisay, Batangas wait for a military truck to evacuate them on the safer ground after the Taal Volcano erupted (Ali Vicoy / MANILA BULLETIN)
"The committee on tourism supports Cong. Lucy Torres-Gomez in the development of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for the severely affected municipalities and cities by the Taal Volcano seismic activities," she told the Manila Bulletin in a text message.
"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."
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has directed the Torres-Gomez panel to coordinate with other relevant committees in the House of Representatives, including the Aragones panel, to map out a "disaster-resilient and sustainable" rehabilitation plan.
Aside from the Aragones panel, Cayetano also involved the House committee on agriculture and trade in the development of the rehabilitation plan.
According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), Taal Volcano remains on Alert Level 4 due to its continuous eruptive activity. The agency earlier announced that a prolonged eruption of up to seven months could be the worst case scenario for the volcano’s activities.
Residents of Talisay, Batangas wait for a military truck to evacuate them on the safer ground after the Taal Volcano erupted (Ali Vicoy / MANILA BULLETIN)
"The committee on tourism supports Cong. Lucy Torres-Gomez in the development of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for the severely affected municipalities and cities by the Taal Volcano seismic activities," she told the Manila Bulletin in a text message.
"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."
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has directed the Torres-Gomez panel to coordinate with other relevant committees in the House of Representatives, including the Aragones panel, to map out a "disaster-resilient and sustainable" rehabilitation plan.
Aside from the Aragones panel, Cayetano also involved the House committee on agriculture and trade in the development of the rehabilitation plan.
According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), Taal Volcano remains on Alert Level 4 due to its continuous eruptive activity. The agency earlier announced that a prolonged eruption of up to seven months could be the worst case scenario for the volcano’s activities.