Taal residents defy dangers to save animals, belongings
BALETE, Batangas – Animals were rescued while personal belongings were dug up from waist-deep ashes as residents of the island-village on Taal Lake defied the imminent danger posed by the continuous activities of the Taal Volcano to save what little they left early Wednesday morning.
Below the intimidating skies covered with volcanic ash, Jun Maranan, 46, crossed the lake before dawn to go to Barangay Bignay, Talisay from Barangay Sala here through a 30minute boat ride to save not only his horse but also of others.
“Kami po ay naaawa sa aming hayop. ‘Yung sabi po ng iba na hindi namin isinama ang aming mga alaga sa pagkalikas namin, hindi ho totoo,” Magpantay, a fisherman-tourist guide in Bignay, said while washing horses along the coast. One horse was carried per boat.
“Ang inuna muna namin ay aming sarili at hindi naman sila magkakasya sa bangka. Noon hong kumalma na ang bulkan, amin ho binalikan,” he added.
Magpantay was with a group of men who have rescued at least 50 horses since Monday from the islands already buried by ashes at the foot of Taal Volcano.
“Siguro may mga isandaan pang kabayo doon. Hindi na namin makuha dahil pinipigilan na kami ng Coast Guard,” John Paul Silva, 18, another member of the group, noted. “Wala na silang makain. Pag kami nga ho ay dumadating, sila’y tumatakbo papunta samin,” he added.
Other animals, including dogs, chickens, ducks, pigs, and cows, were still trapped in the area, according to the residents.
Horses were used for tourists visiting the Taal Volcano, while chickens, ducks, pigs, and cows were used for breeding or were sold for their meat. They were the primary source of income of residents living at the foot of the volcano, aside from fishing.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority K-9 Corps led a rescue operation for abandoned pets in Talisay, this province.
This way, pet owners would be dissuaded from returning to their homes from the evacuation centers for the purpose of feeding their animals, including livestock, MMDA K-9 Corps President Cris Falcis said.
“We’re here to rescue some animals na naiwan na ng may-ari,” Falcis said. “The pets are one of the reasons why they keep coming back. There is no sense for them to come back,” he added.
Joining the rescue efforts were members of the Batangas City Veterinary Office and private volunteers-cum-animal lovers. The groups assembled at Talisay Municipal Hall.
They bought cages for the animals as well as food and water.