BACOLOD CITY –– The Negros Occidental provincial government and the local church has called for prayers for the safety of residents evacuating from their homes near Taal Volcano.
Negros Occidental Acting Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer also expressed hopes that a similar situation does not happen in Negros Occidental, which also has an active volcano.
He said close monitoring and disaster preparedness measures have been put in place in areas surrounding Kanlaon Volcano that straddles Negros Occidental and Oriental.
Local government units in the area have crisis management teams, he said, stressing the importance of always being prepared.
Ferrer said he would leave it to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, on his return from his vacation in the United States, to decide on what assistance the Negros Occidental provincial government would give to areas affected by the Taal eruption.
For his part, Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon called on the faithful of the Diocese of Bacolod to pray and extend help to those affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.
“In times of calamities, let us be one with those affected,” he said.
Fr. Roy Gesulgon, Diocese of Bacolod chancellor, said donations to the Taal Volcano victims may be sent to the Diocese of Bacolod Social Action Center at the Bishop’s House in Bacolod City.
Buzon has called on the priests to include a petition in the recitation of the Prayers of the Faithful during masses for the safety and protection of the people affected by the Taal volcano explosion.
The bishop also directed the priests to organize special collections for the victims of the calamity.
San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said he too has been praying for the victims of the Taal eruption.
“I’m hoping that we all learn and stop denying we are in a climate emergency. I call on all those who have the power to shut down all the heaviest producers of carbon emission: coal-fired power plants and not allow new ones where renewable energy sources are available and sustainable.”