Taal Volcano (Screengrab from Phivolcs vide)
MANILA – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said it is now undertaking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of residents of the areas affected by Taal Volcano's unrest.
"The OCD, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and our regional and local government partners in Calabarzon are closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary precautionary measures. As President (Ferdinand R.) Marcos Jr. noted this morning, protocols are in place. The national government stands ready to assist, especially if the situation deteriorates,” OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said in a news release Thursday night.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Taal had a minor phreatomagmatic eruption at Taal Volcano on Wednesday afternoon.
The eruption lasted for 11 minutes, occurring between 4:21 p.m. and 4:32 p.m.
Taal remains under Alert Level 1, indicating that it remains in an abnormal state, and the threat of eruptive activity persists.
“At Alert Level 1, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within the Taal Volcano Island,” Phivolcs added.
Meanwhile, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Calabarzon has reinforced orders regarding the No Human Settlement Area, as mandated by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) for the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape through Resolutions No. 65 (2020) and 01 (2021).
“These resolutions underscore the critical importance of keeping the island free from human habitation due to the inherent risks posed by the active volcano. The PAMB, which governs the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL), strictly prohibits any form of settlement on the island to ensure public safety and to preserve the ecological integrity of the area.” the RDRMMC's Memorandum No. 123 said.
The government urges the public to avoid entering Taal’s Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), particularly areas around the Main Crater and the Daang Kastila fissure.
Residents in affected areas are advised to remain vigilant, take necessary precautions, and heed the warnings and advisories issued by authorities. (PNA)
