Garbo pledges aid to Taal volcano victims
MABALACAT CITY -Mayor Cris Garbo has vowed to appropriate funds to help residents affected by the eruption of Taal vol cano.
The mayor recently met with other city officials, including City Administrator Emmanuel Ignacio, Chief of Staff Rosan Paquia, City Disaster Officer Bernard Delos Reyes, City Health Officer Dr. Maria Clara Aquino, and others and discussed the aid plans.
Garbo directed Ignacio to request for a special session with the Sangguniang Panlungsod to grant the mayor an authority to release some P5-million in
Funds for the immediate assistance to affected residents in Batangas and other places near the Taal Lake.
Ignacio said the mayor called the emergency meeting with front line response department heads involved in disaster response, delivery of basic and health services.
The mayor at the same time reminded his constituents, especially the children, of possible health risk of volcanic ash that already reached the city.
Classes in all levels in this city and all parts of the province were suspended by Governor Dennis Pi neda.
Pineda said it is payback time as he led a 50-vehicle convoy that will bring assistance and food packs to the families affected by the disaster.
He said the effort is part of returning the favor to those who helped Pampanga when Mount Pinatubo erupted in the 1990s.
"Tayong survivors ng Mount Pinatubo disaster ay tutulong sa mga nasasalanta ng pagputok ng bulkang Taal. Payback time po ito at ito po ay pasasalamat dahil noon pong pumutok ang bulkang Pinatubo , marami po ang tumulong para iligtas tayo at makabangon," Pineda said.