ECOP, together with PCCI and PHILEXPORT, conducted a disaster relief operations for the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption last 19 January 2020 in San Luis, Batangas.

Last 12 January 2020, Taal Volcano started spewing ash, prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS) to raise its alert status to level 2. In the following hours, PHILVOLCS raised the status to level 4 which means that hazardous eruption is imminent. The imminent threat caused by the eruption of Taal Volcano prompted PHILVOCS to recommend forced evacuation in communities within the 7-kilometer zone of Taal Volcano.

In response to this, ECOP, PCCI, and PHILEXPORT combined its efforts to solicit donations from the business community which allowed volunteer staff from the three organizations to pack and prepare two thousand (2,000) disaster relief kits, which were then distributed among 5 barangays across San Luis, Batangas.

Forced evacuation in communities within the 7-kilometer zone of Taal Volcano is still in place and evacuees are still in need of relief goods. ECOP, PCCI, and PHILEXPORT shall continue to accept donations, in cash or in-kind to help the victims of Taal Volcano eruption. To know more about how you or your organization can help these evacuees, you may contact Ms. Romina Cacapit, ECOP Executive Secretary, at [email protected].