By NG Seruela
Malacañang said it is closely monitoring the situation in Taal following the phreatomagmatic eruptions of Taal Volcano.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Friday (July 2) in a statement that evacuation activities in high-risk barangays in the towns of Laurel and Agoncillo in Batangas are ongoing.
“Local government units are leading the efforts on the ground through their Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices with the support of counterparts in the line agencies,” he said.
The Palace said the Department of Social Welfare and Development office in Region 4-A is on “heightened alert” and has “stockpiles of relief support consisting of food packs amounting to ₱1.4 million and non-food items worth ₱11 million.”
Roque reported that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command has activated Joint Task Force Taal to assist in the operations of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the local government units.
In a separate statement, AFP Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said they have placed more personnel on alert and are prepared for immediate deployment. He assured that they will continue to monitor the situation and developments as well as assist the Philippine National Police (PNP) when needed.
In relation to this, Roque also reported that the PNP in Calabarzon has been placed on alert and is “coordinating with local government units to assist residents.”
PNP Chief Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said he directed the deployment of many police vehicles and PNP personnel to assist the evacuees in the area.
“Sa ngayon ay hindi pa natin alam ang mga susunod na mangyayari sa pag-aalburoto ng Bulkang Taal, kaya nakikiusap po tayo sa ating mga apektadong kababayan na sumunod sa mga alintuntuning ipapatupad ng ating pamahalaan upang matiyak ang inyong kaligtasan,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Logistics Systems Command has already deployed vehicles and personnel to support the PCG District Southern Tagalog in conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. – jlo
