Over 11K Batangueños get aid following Taal eruption

FILE: A family walks barefoot along a muddy road towards the direction of Tanauan City from Talisay town in Batangas to seek safer grounds on Monday (Jan. 13, 2020). Some residents in areas affected by Taal Volcano’s eruption on Sunday evacuated on their own, fearing for their safety as authorities raise the alert level 4, which means “hazardous eruption is possible within days”. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA — Following the continuous ashfall and earthquakes brought about by Taal Volcano eruption that forced thousands of Batangueños living near the volcano to evacuate, the Aboitiz Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Aboitiz Group, together with several Aboitiz business units (BUs) in South Luzon, mobilized much-needed aid to over 11,000 residents affected by the calamity.

As of January 14, several team members from AP Renewables, Inc. Makiling-Banahaw (APRI-MakBan), LiMA EnerZone Corporation (LEZ), and Aboitiz Land, Inc. have pitched in to assemble relief packs containing food, 10,000 N95 face masks to combat the respiratory impact of the ashfall, sleeping kits, hygiene kits, and drinking water.

These packages will be distributed to 5,519 families, or 11,071 individuals in evacuation centers in Malvar, Sto. Tomas City, and Lipa City, Batangas as well as in San Pablo City and Bay, Laguna.

The Aboitiz Foundation also immediately set up a donation page (#TaalVolcano Eruption Call for Donations) to help affected families through its online donations’ platform KINDer by Aboitiz (KINDer.aboitiz.com).

“The Aboitiz Group is one with Batangas in this time of urgent need. We sincerely hope our assistance will directly help our Batangueño brothers and sisters as they face this challenge with courage and hope,” said Maribeth L. Marasigan, Aboitiz Foundation president and chief operating officer.

Currently, the government has sustained Alert Level 4 over Taal Volcano, meaning a hazardous explosive eruption is still possible within hours or days.

APRI, LEZ, and AboitizLand have a presence in South Luzon. APRI operates the MakBan Geothermal Power Plant in Bay and Calauan, Laguna, and Sto. Tomas City, Batangas, while LEZ operates LiMA Land’s distribution system in Lipa City and Malvar, Batangas. AboitizLand has industrial, commercial, and residential developments in San Juan, Malvar, and Lipa City, Batangas. (PR)