Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday assured those affected by the Taal Volcano eruption in Batangas that the House of Representatives is ready to listen to their plight despite the danger they are getting themselves into in holding session in the province.
Cayetano made the remark in his speech during the opening of the House's out-of-town session at the Batangas City Convention Center.
"Love God above everything and everyone with all our hearts, spirit, and mind, and love others as we love ourselves. We are here to show Batangas, including Cavite and Laguna, that we love you as we love ourselves," Cayetano said.
"Yes, there is a risk of being here, but you are facing that risk every single day. So, what is one day for your National Congress, the House of the People, to be here with you to listen and to hear so that we may legislate effectively?" he added.
Cayetano himself announced that the House would hold their session in Batangas City in an act of solidarity with the residents whose lives and livelihood were affected by the Taal Volcano eruption. This is even as Alert Level 4 is still raised over the volcano, signifying that a hazardous eruption remains a possibility.
"We want to go home having a clear vision of what needs to be done, not only in the area of response and relief, but also in the area of rehabilitation," Cayetano said.
"We will be hearing different representatives from evacuees, barangay captains, mayors today and babaunin po natin pauwi ang kanila pong mga bilin sa atin ngayong hapon," he added.
The move did not sit well with Senator Francis Pangilinan, a member of the opposition, who said he hopes the session will not get in the way of ongoing relief operations.
Pangilinan also hoped House members will not become victims themselves if ever Taal Volcano erupts while they were there.
“That's their business. I just hope they don't get in the way of disaster relief and operations and become victims as well should a hazardous eruption take place while they are there,” Pangilinan said in a text message to GMA News Online.
Among the speakers who shared with the lawmakers the situation and their experience during the aftermath of the Taal Volcano eruption were Brgy. Captain Joceline Bayanay of Alas-as, San Nicolas, Batangas, Mayor Daniel Reyes of Agoncillo town and Mayor Lester De Sagun of San Nicolas town.
The House also opened the sponsorship and debates on the measure seeking to create the Department of Disaster Resilience. —KBK, GMA News
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/723137/house-to-listen-to-taal-victims-amid-risks-in-batangas-cayetano/story/
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