LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – Actor and TV host Willie Revillame entertained evacuees of Mayon Volcano during a visit to evacuation centers in Albay on Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15.
Smiles were seen on the faces of these evacuees who have been staying in evacuation centers for more than a month now due to heightened Mayon activity.
Revillame first visited the evacuation center at the Gabawan Elementary School in Daraga on Friday where 179 families or 629 individuals from Barangay Matnog are temporarily housed.
TV host and actor Willie Revillame entertains Mayon Volcano evacuees at the San Antonio Evacuation Center in Tabaco City, Albay. With him are Ako Bicol party-list and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda. (Photo courtesy of Rep. Joey Salceda)
He then proceeded to San Andres Evacuation Center in Santo Domingo to entertain thousands who fled their homes due to Mayon unrest.
The following day, Revillame visited Bariw Evacuation Center in Camalig and San Antonio Evacuation Center in Tabaco City.
He said that he visited these evacuation centers to cheer up evacuees who participated in games such as "Hep Hep Horaay!" and winners received prizes.
"Ako po ay naimbitahan ni Congressman Zaldy Co ng Ako Bicol. Kahapon nag-lunch po kami, sabi niya sa akin, ‘Willie, baka puwede mo naman i-entertain ‘yung mga kababayan kong naapektuhan ng pag-alburuto ng Mayon.’ So pumayag agad ako at pasalamat tayo kay Congressman Zaldy dahil sa Ako Bicol andito tayo (I was invited to visit you by Rep. Zaldy Co of Ako-Bicol party-list. We had lunch and he asked me, ‘Willie, can you entertain my constituents affected by Mayon?’ I agreed and let us thank Congressman Zaldy Co and Ako-Bicol party-list for bringing me here)," he said.
Revillame was accompanied by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, former Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Christopher Co, Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Bongalon, and Rep. Zaldy Co.
Rep. Zaldy Co provided cash prizes and food packs to winners and P100,000 to every evacuation centers he visited.
He said that the activity is part of Ako Bicol’s commitment to provide better life to Bicolanos.
"Alam namin kung gaano kahirap ang ma-displaced dahil sa pag-alburuto ng Mayon. Mahirap dahil wala ka sa sarili mong tahanan. Kaya ang Ako Bicol ay laging nandyan para sa ating mga evacuees (It is very difficult to be displaced by Mayon and homeless. Ako Bicol is always here for evacuees)," Co said.
Co, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said that permanent and fully airconditioned evacuation centers will soon rise in the municipalities in the second and third districts of Albay.
"Itong evacuation centers with super health centers wala pang eruption nilagay na natin sa 2023 (national) budget. For bidding na po lahat ‘yan. Every municipality sa third district at second district, medyo naiwan lang ‘yung first district, hopefully makahanap tayo ng location dito. ‘Yung building puwede po siyang magkaroon ng convention, evacuation, training center para pag walang kalamidad, walang typhoon puwede siyang gamitin (These evacuation centers with super health centers have an allocation in the 2023 (national) budget and are scheduled for bidding. Every municipality in the third and second district will have and the first district, too, when we find suitable locations. These buildings can be used as convention and training center when there is no calamities)," Co said.