Tagaytay Flower Market opens after week-long closure due to ashfall

Stalls at the Tagaytay Flower Market in Tagaytay City, Cavite reopened on Friday after being closed for almost a week due to ashfall following Taal Volcano's activity.

However, there were some stalls that have yet to open on Saturday.

Flowers in the closed stores were seen covered in ash and already wilted.

These flowers will have to be thrown away, vendors in nearby stalls said.

Meanwhile, vendors washed away the ash on some flowers and said these will be sold at a discount.

For instance, Malaysian mums which used to be sold at P300 a dozen will now be sold at P150 per dozen.

Vendors said it would be better to sell at a discount rather than throw away the flowers.

They said sales were always brisk before Taal Volcano began acting up, and they earned up to P10,000 a day back then.

However, on Friday, vendors said sales reached only P600.

Meanwhile, some hotels also reopened on Friday but have yet to receive guests.

Other hotels remained closed since their power and water service have not yet been restored, and they still have to clean up the place and remove the ash.

Many areas in Tagaytay City already had their power restored on Friday night.

Taal Volcano had a phreatic eruption on Sunday and spewed ash in areas around the volcano including Tagaytay City. The ash also reached Metro Manila and Rizal.

Many businesses in Tagaytay City closed as tourists left the area due to heavy ashfall.

The volcano has since then spewed not just ash but also lava fountains.

Alert Level 4 remains hoisted over Taal Volcano on Saturday morning, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology saying a hazardous explosive eruption may occur in hours or days. —Jonathan Andal/KG, GMA News