A six-person team from the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Catanduanes Chapter left for Albay last Friday, June 16, 2023 to assist in the Mayon eruption operations.
Chapter Administrator Reymund Reginaldo said the team, composed of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) technicians Hansenlay Tatac, Kaime Ordiz, Mark Louise Tabuzo and Joseph Sarmiento, and water tanker operators Irenie Gonzales and Earl Richard Tablate, are expected to serve Albayanos affected by the volcano eruption for about a week.
They will engage in a WASH information and education campaign, establish a source for potable water and ration it to a designated evacuation center and assess existing latrines at the center for retrofitting or rehabilitation if needed.
Latest reports from the Office of Civil Defense 5 said that the continuing restiveness of Mayon volcano has displaced 4,286 families or 15,017 persons who are now sheltered in 22 evacuation centers, while another 185 families or 659 persons are temporarily residing elsewhere.
In the first two days of the team’s deployment, they were able to conduct bladder and tanker refill at the evacuation centers at Guinobatan Community College and Maoraro High School; inventory WASH equipment at BUCIT warehouse and coordinate with the local government unit on water source and installation of bladder; water distribution, installation of bladder and tap stand at BCAT, Camalig; and coordination with the camp chief, barangay captains, school principal of Bical HS and installation of WASH Collecting Point (bladder and tap stand) at Sto. Domingo ES evacuation center at Sitio Sojoton in barangay Calayucay and at Sitio Bical, Salvacion, both in Sto. Domingo.
Among the challenges the team faces are the weak flow of water at the hydrant and the far distance of the water source from the distribution site.