By Pearl Gumapos
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar on Thursday (July 1) placed Calabarzon police on high alert in case there is a need to evacuate the area around Taal Volcano, which continues to emit sulfur dioxide.
Eleazar said in a press release that the concerned police offices and units should start coordinating with local government units (LGUs) to find out if there are residents in need of assistance due to the volcano’s continuing state of unrest.
Eleazar said that the local police offices should also monitor developments on the volcano’s activity.
“Ngayon pa lamang po ay simulan na natin ang pakikipag-coordinate sa mga lokal na opisyal para agad tayong makapagbigay ng tulong sa mga residenteng apektado nitong kasalukuyang activity ng bulkan,” Eleazar said.
“Mas maganda po na tayo’y maging alerto at handa para matiyak ang kaligtasan ng bawat isa,” he added.
Volcano alert now at level 3
Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the status to Alert Level 3 at 3:14 this afternoon, when the volcano ejected a plume of black steam one kilometer high.
Phivolcs also said the entire Taal Volcano Island should be off-limits.
“Sisiguraduhin po nating walang makalalapit sa nasabing isla,” the PNP Chief said.
As of now, five to six thousand residents of Agoncillo municipality in Batangas have already been warned.
According to Agoncillo Mayor Daniel Reyes, residents from Barangay Banyaga, Balibinwang, and Sitio Manalaw Subic Ilaya, which are within a seven-kilometer radius of Taal Volcano, are forecasted to be affected, with around 1,000 to 1,500 families to be evacuated. Modular tents are currently being prepared in case the situation worsens.
Cavite Jonvic Remulla posted on social media that evacuation preparations have begun in the province and Tagaytay City. He warned: “Ang hangin ng habagat ay pwede na magdala ng matinding abo kapag [ito ay] umabot sa alert level 4-5.” # – jlo
