Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan - Manalangin, Manindigan, Makialam

On December 22 and 29, the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB) extended help to the evacuees in Albay, Legaspi City. The team provided for three hundred eighty eight (388) mattresses and two hundred one (201) blankets which the local church requested for those who had to leave their homes for their own safety.

The SLB team together with the JVP Naga Local Community had a chance to see for themselves the situation where the evacuees were in Bagumbayan Central School in Legaspi City, a public school which was then vacated for the Christmas vacation, held almost three thousand three hundred eighty seven (3, 387) evacuees as of December 29, 2009.

The group was able to have a short dialogue with the school principal. In this dialogue or conversation, he was able to share some salient points:

• Since Albay is constantly plagued by the Mayon eruption, it would be better if the local government allot permanent evacuation centers which will decently hold the evacuees. Given the proper place for these families to stay, classes will not be disrupted as well.

• Proper profiling of the evacuees’ needs had to be done, too. In this way, the families who really need so much help will be given much help and those who can still afford some things need not be provided with everything. In addition, repetition of help, for example too many mattresses for one family will be avoided. Thus, more people will be helped.

• Sanitation had to be given serious consideration in the evacuation centers. This is of utmost importance especially to safeguard the health of the children.

In the dialogue, a representative from the Social Action Center was also present and assured the principal that his observation will be properly aired to authorities.