SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health, and the Department of Education to ensure the safety and welfare of children affected by the eruption of Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon.

While the volcano has calmed down, Gatchalian said that the government must always ensure safe and child-friendly spaces for children who need to be evacuated whenever there are calamities.

The senator sought the adequate provision of basic necessities and services such as food, water, medicines, sanitary and hygiene kits.

He also emphasized the need to provide psychosocial intervention for affected children.

“Ang mga bata ang pinaka-apektado tuwing nakakaranas tayo ng mga kalamidad at mga sakuna. Matapos ang pagsabog ng Mount Bulusan, ang ating prayoridad ngayon ay matugunan ang mga agarang pangangailangan, matiyak ang kanilang kaligtasan at matulungan silang makabalik nang ligtas sa kanilang mga tahanan kung hindi na muling sasabog ang bulkan,” Gatchalian said.

More than 200 individuals fled their homes when the volcano erupted on Sunday. Classes in three schools in the town of Juban were suspended.

The DepEd in Sorsogon earlier advised school officials to prepare classrooms in Casiguran, Irosin and Juban as evacuation centers.

Gatchalian said that the recent eruption stressed the need for at least one evacuation center in every city and municipality to avoid the use of schools as evacuation sites.

“Patuloy nating isusulong ang pagkakaroon ng matatag na evacuation center sa bawat lungsod at munisipalidad sa bansa. Hindi na natin maaaring ipagpaliban ito lalo na’t madalas nararanasan ng ating bansa ang mga sakuna at kalamidad,” he said.