MMDRRMC holds meeting Monday to discuss various ways to address the effects of Taal volcano eruption in Metro Manila. (FILE PHOTO)

MAKATI CITY, Jan. 13 -- Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MMDRRMC) Senior Vice Chair Romulo Cabantac on Monday directed the 17 local government DRRM offices in the metropolis to allocate resources and aid evacuees affected by the Taal volcano eruption.

During Monday's emergency meeting of the MMDRRMC held at the Manila Room of the MMDA, Cabantac also emphasized the need to have proper accounting of every internally displaced person (IDPs) coming to Metro Manila.

Cabantac, who is also the concurrent Office of Civil Defense National Capital Region regional director, advised the LGUs to "not only provide humanitarian assistance and support to the IDPs, but to also account their current status and condition in order to avoid any confusion and allow for faster reunification with their families later."

For his part, MMDRRMC Focal for Disaster Michael Salalima said some of their resources at the MMDA, together with the LGUs, will be used for augmentation relief efforts.

"Manila DRRMO Director Arnel Angeles is currently providing assistance to Tagaytay City following the Taal Volcano event," Salalima said, adding he will join the MMDA response contingent later that day and meet up with them there to also extend assistance to other affected areas.

The City of Manila has deployed at least 2 firetrucks, 3 ambulances, 1 mobile hospital and 23 personnel, and portable water purifiers, among others as part of its response team.

The Council will utilize the National Capital Region Police Office area in Taguig City as staging area to preposition food, non-food items and personnel for deployment.

For her part, Department of Social Welfare and Development officer Airah Calaca said their agency have prepared on standby at least 4,158 family food packs, and non-food items such as 2, 759 hygine and 1,564 sleeping kits, among others.

"We have also activated our quick response team composed of social workers and support staff readily available for deployment," Calaca said.

Currently, she said for CALABARZON Region, the DSWD NCR has provided an augmentation assistance of at least 525 food packs and 1,000 non-food items.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila Center for Health Development Regional Director Corazon Flores said they have alloted an initial 5,000 N95 masks and 10,000 surgical masks for the public and be made available to LGUs and Department of Health (DOH) hospitals.

Cabantac also asked the Metro Manila LGUs to monitor the price of N95 masks, a protection from breathing in hazardous particles, as some retailers reportedly took advantage of its high demand due to ashfall occurence since Sunday.

The local governments of Manila and Paranaque has said that they will not hesitate to file charges against overpricing vendors. (PIA-NCR)