TAAL ERUPTION HUMANITARIAN MISSION

by Rhea Agustin

It was the 12th of January 2020 when the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the Level 4 alert status of Taal Volcano in Batangas. The level asserted imminent danger. As such, several areas near the Taal Volcano and even in Metro Manila experienced ash fall that prompted many nearby communities to evacuate immediately. Batangas was then placed under a state of calamity.

The Assumption College-San Lorenzo, under the leadership of the College Dean, Dr. Angela Fabiola Regala promptly called for a meeting to discuss and plan for humanitarian assistance in those affected areas. The operations began on January 14 and extended until January 25, 2020.The departments in-charge of the relief mobilizations and delivery of family augmentation bags were the Center for Social Involvement-Higher Education Division and Center for Social Involvement-Basic Education Division. Collaboration between departments and various organizations was evident as we welcomed hundreds of volunteers and donors from different sectors. One notable involvement was the participation of active members of the Assumption Alumnae Association (AAA), many of whom volunteered for relief goods repacking. Many of our Old Girls generously offered monetary assistance, as well as food supplies and non-food items such as medicines and toiletries.