P1.4-M worth of food packs prepositioned amid Taal Volcano threat

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Calabarzon has prepositioned P1.4 million worth of food packs and P11 million worth of non-food items amid the threats posed by the eruption of Taal Volcano.

Taal Volcano was placed under Alert Level 3 on Thursday following an eruption that gave rise to a kilometer-high phreatomagmatic plume. 

In a statement, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said it and its regional counterparts in Calabarzon are closely monitoring the situation.

Citing the Taal Volcano bulletin, the agency said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has recorded four short phreatomagmatic eruptions in the Volcano.

Affected areas include Poblacio and Sinturisan in San Nicolas; Gulod, Buso Buso, Bugaan West, and Bugaan East in Laurel; Subic Ilaya, Banyaga, and Bilibinwang in Agoncillo; Apacay, Taal; Luyos and Boot in Tanauan City, and San Sebastian, Balete.

A total of 1,282 individuals or 317 families have been evacuated on Friday.

The NDRRMC said medical personnel have also been deployed and are on stand-by while the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine Coast Guard have activated their task groups.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said it has also prepositioned its floating assets and vehicles for mobilization.