Batangas offers to pay for livestock of Taal Volcano Island residents

The local government of Batangas is proposing to account and pay for the livestock and other animals of residents of Volcano Island in Taal Lake to prevent them from going back to the island amid the possible hazardous explosion of the Taal Volcano.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV aired on GMA News TV on Sunday, Brigadier General Kit Teofilo, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint Task Force Taal, said they have monitored several residents returning to the Volcano Island even if it has been declared a permanent danger zone.

Teofilo was aware that residents are doing so in an attempt to rescue their livestock and other animals left behind.

Still, he said going back to the island will only endanger the lives of the residents.

"[Kaya] ang ating provincial government, through Governor [Hermilando Mandanas, ay nag-propose na nga. Sinabi niya na sa council at sa mga mayors na bayaran, i-account na lang ng probinsiya 'yung mga alaga nilang hayop," Teofilo said.

"Kasi karamihan naman dito ay na-retrieve na through the effort na rin ng provincial government and LGUs. 'Yung mga naiwan pa, siyempre 'yun naman ang mga worries ng mga kababayan natin. Kaya nag-propose na lang 'yung ating provincial government na bayaran na lang ito," he added.

Teofilo assured, however, that those who defy the lockdown and return to Volcano Island will not be arrested, considering the sensitivity of their situation.

Instead, their boats will be confiscated to prevent them from going back to the island, he added.

"'Yung sa directive ni Secretary Año, kumpiskahin na lang or i-hold na lang 'yung mga bangka nila lalong-lalo na 'yung mga tumatawid. Kaya 'yung ating Coast Guard, 'yung ating maritime at 'yung ating kasundaluhan ay nagtulong-tulong para kausapin at iangat 'yung mga bangka nila sa pampang para sa ganun ay maiwasan ang pagpunta nila doon sa island," he said.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Sunday lowered the alert level raised over Taal Volcano to Alert Level 3 due to the decreasing activity monitored in the volcano over the past two weeks. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News