Tanauan, Batangas residents given window hours to get belongings, feed livestock

Despite the lockdown imposed, residents in Taal-affected Tanauan, Batangas were given window hours over the weekend to get their belongings and feed their pets and livestock.

The window hours on Sunday are from 5 to 8 a.m. and 3-6 p.m., GMA News' Darlene Cay said in a report on Dobol B sa News TV aired on GMA News TV.

#BantayBulkan: Window hour para sa mga residenteng nais bumalik sa kani-kanilang bahay na nasa danger zone sa Tanauan, Batangas, nagsimula na. | via @DarleneCay pic.twitter.com/WERr7rComp

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 18, 2020

The city was among areas placed on lockdown due to the threat from Taal Volcano's activity.

The volcano, which had a phreatic eruption on Sunday, Jan. 12, has since emitted lava fountains and had infrequent weak explosions. Alert Level 4 remained raised on Sunday, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology saying a hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days.

Twenty-one barangays in Tanauan have been identified as part of the 14-kilometer permanent danger zone, and susceptible to the effects of a major eruption of the volcano.

On Sunday morning, residents gathered early at the entrance to the town, more calm this time.

Tension arose on Saturday as residents appealed to authorities to allow them even for just a few hours to get some items and feed their pets and livestock.

The residents were eventually allowed entry on Saturday by Mayor Sweet Halili.

Those who want to enter the town were asked to leave their IDs at the checkpoint and claim them back on their way out.

As for those who do not have IDs, barangay officials need to identify them first.

This is to ensure only residents will be allowed inside the town, and prevent criminals from entering.

Halili said residents will be allowed entry to the town until the local government unit finishes its animal rescue operations.

The mayor said residents have been citing the animals as a reason to go back to their homes.

Halili said LGU personnel will just rescue all livestock and pets left inside the lockdown area, and bring them outside the permanent danger zone for their owners to claim them.

This may pose a problem however for some residents, one of whom, a piggery owner, said he has 500 pigs inside the permanent danger zone. —KG, GMA News