ROXAS: LET'S UNITE TO MAKE ALBAY RESIDENTS FEEL CHRISTMAS

Sen. Mar Roxas today asked government and the public to join hands and help Albay residents feel the spirit of the Yuletide season despite the dangers posed by the impending eruption of Mayon Volcano.

Roxas said the joy of gift-giving would be more significant if this is shared with the thousands of families who are now camping out in at least three evacuation centers in Albay to escape Mayon's rumblings.

"Napakasarap ng pakiramdam ng nakapagbibigay tayo ng saya sa ating mga kababayang ngayon ay nabubuhay ng may pangamba para sa kanilang mga kinabukasan. Sino pa ba ang magtutulungan kundi tayo rin namang mga Pilipino, hindi ba?" Roxas said following a trip to Legazpi City in Albay on Tuesday.

"Nakita namin ang halo-halong tuwa, pag-asa, lungkot at pag-aalala sa mata ng ating mga kababayan nang dalawin namin sila ni Senador Noynoy. Masaya kami na kahit sa sandaling panahon ay napaligaya namin ang mga taga-Legazpi sa aming mga mumunting regalo," he added.

Roxas and Sen. Noynoy Aquino flew to Albay on Tuesday to give residents a breather to enjoy the holidays. They spent time with and distributed relief goods to evacuees staying at the Daraga North Central School in Daraga and at the Gogon Central School in Barangay Gogon and Bagumbayan Central School in Bagumbayan, both in Legazpi City.

Since last week, local authorities of Albay have relocated more than 45,000 residents living in the eight-kilometer danger zone around Mayon. The residents are now staying in 26 school buildings, gymnasiums and other emergency centers in and around the provincial capitol of Legazpi, where they have been given sleeping mats and food supplies to last them through the Christmas holidays.

The Visayan senator said simple gifts -- such as toys for children and clothing apparels for adults -- would help divert the attention of the evacuees from their eruption worries.

"Simple lang naman tayong mga Pilipino, matutuwa na tayo sa maliliit na bagay, hindi naman kailangang grande ang anumang maaari nating ibigay sa ating mga kababayan sa Albay. Ang mas importante ay maipadama natin sa kanila na sila ay mahalaga sa atin," Roxas said.

"Magtulungan tayong lahat. Huwag nating pabayaan ang ating mga nangangailangang kababaya," he added.