Potential water, sanitation problems hound Bulusan evacuees

(Updated 1:45 p.m.) Lack of potable water and clean sanitation are beginning to hound residents evacuated from their homes due to restive Bulusan Volcano's activity. On Monday, a report by radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo said that based on information reaching Health Secretary Enrique Ona, residents in evacuation centers also risk getting respiratory diseases. The report said those particularly at risk of respiratory diseases include those from the towns of Magallanes, Bulan, Juban and Irosin. But it added some of the water and sanitation facilities at the evacuation centers did not meet the standards of the World Health Organization. It recommended better support from the local government units before the volcano becomes more restive and authorities call for the evacuation of residents. Meanwhile, a report by GMA News' Rawna Crisostomo said the number of those staying at the Gallonosa National High School in Irosin town has gone down to a little over 200 people or 50 families. Crisostomo reported that most of the 1,500 residents from the villages of Cogon and Bolos in Irosin have returned to their respective homes.
On Sunday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said authorities are preparing additional evacuation centers for residents near Bulusan. The NDRRMC said there are presently 52 centers that can accommodate up to 49,218 people, but indicated additional centers may be put up in Sorsogon City "in case of masive evacuation." Sorsogon City presently has eight evacuation centers that can accommodate 16,000 people. Gubat (12), Juban (12) and Casiguran (11) presently have the most number of centers. On Sunday, Bulusan ejected ash anew, sending an ash cloud up to two kilometers from the summit — the highest since it started acting up last Nov. 6. This prompted the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to remind residents not to venture near the 4-km permanent danger zone. Also, NDRRMC records showed that as of 11 p.m. Friday, a total of 2,712 families or 13,561 people in 18 villages in Casiguran, Juban and Irosin towns had been affected. NDRRMC said 84 families or 370 people have been evacuated and served in eight evacuation centers. — RSJ, GMANews.TV