No Weekend Plans? Volunteer and Help The 30,000+ Taal Evacuees in Cavite and Batangas

Volunteering is not nearly as hard as it seems. You only need the will and energy to help. Pick a place on the list below, gather your friends and family, pack up your donations, and get on the road to help the evacuees one life at a time.

If you want to help the evacuees from the Taal Volcano eruption, but have no idea where to start, here’s everything you need to know about how you can help.

Evacuation Sites

The evacuation sites nearest Metro Manila are the ones in Cavite, particularly in Tagaytay City, Alfonso, and Mendez, where more than 6,000 evacuees are currently staying. According to the Youth For Peace Movement, there are currently 4,000+ individuals in the evacuation centers in Alfonso, 3,000+ in Tagaytay (according to and Sangguniang Kabataan), 353 in General Emilio Aguinaldo, 67 in Mendez, and 31 in Ternate.

Meanwhile, in Batangas, where most of the evacuees have gone, there are over 24,000 evacuees, according to Rappler. There aren’t any official numbers yet, but all of the evacuees hail from the following towns: Talisay, Lemery, Balete, Tanauan, San Nicolas, Lipa City, and Laurel.

These are only estimates, and the real numbers are more likely higher. These numbers also only account for the evacuees in evacuation centers, not including those that have been taken in the homes of neighbors and residents.

These are all the evacuation centers in Cavite and Batangas:

Alfonso, Cavite: Alfonso Central School, Alfonso Municipal Hall, Amuyong Covered Court, Buck Estate Elementary School, Pansin Elementary School, Sicat Elementary School, Upli Covered Court

Tagaytay, Cavite: Asisan, Bagong Tubig Covered Court, Guinhawa North, Iruhin Central, Iruhin West
Kaybagal Central, Kaybagal South, Neogan South, Mendez Crossing East Chapel, Patuto North Unida Church, Sambong, San Jose, Silang Crossing East, Silang Crossing West, Sungay West SVD Seminary, Tagaytay City National High School, Tagaytay Integrated School, Guinhawa South

Mendez, Cavite:

Asis 3 Covered Court, Anuling Covered Court, Galicia 3 Covered Court, Palocpoc Covered Court, Panungyan Covered Court, Poblacion 2 Covered Court

In Batangas, here are the evacuation centers throughout the province:

Note: Most of the affected sites have no electricity or water due to the eruption, so many are living in the dark.

Donations

• N95 masks
• Bottled water
• Food packs (ideally canned food or ready-to-eat meals)
• Bed foams, banig, baby play mats (many are sleeping on cardboard on the floor)
• Blankets (big enough for a family)
• Pillows
• Candles, flashlights, and lamps (ideally solar-powered)
• Chargers and powerbanks
• Toiletries for children and adults (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush)
• Women products (sanitary napkins)
• Clothes for babies, children, and adults (particularly light jackets or shawls to protect from ash)
• Scarves (for double protection from ash and as baby slings)
• Diapers (for seniors, toddlers, and babies)
• Face towel or handkerchief (to double as DIY mask)
• Baby formula
• Baby wipes
• First aid kits
• Medicine (antibiotics, antihistamines, antiseptics, and pain relievers)
• Thermometer

Organizations

Not everyone has the time or capabilities to go to these evacuation centers, so a number of organizations are calling for donations via drop off centers near you.

The DSWD also needs volunteers/manpower to help pack food and relief items.