Residents insist on entering Agoncillo, Batangas to feed animals amid lockdown

Some residents appealed to authorities on Monday to let them enter the town of Agoncillo in Batangas again despite the lockdown of the area which is part of the 14-kilometer danger zone amid the threats of Taal Volcano's activity.

According to reports of Jonathan Andal on GMA News’ Unang Balita on Monday, residents trooped to the town’s entrance just in case authorities would allow them to feed their animals.

Some of them traveled for one to two hours to arrive at the area as early as 5 a.m.

Among them were residents who spent at least P4,000 to hire vehicles that will fetch their animals from Agoncillo.

Authorities previously gave residents window hours to return to their homes and attend to their animals and belongings. However, no window hours were given on Sunday.

“’Yun lang naman po ang hinihiling namin ‘yung isang oras lang po na mapapakain ang aming hayop para mabuhay po dahil ‘yun lang ang aming binabalikan diyan,” affected resident Janet Ornales said.

Despite the presence of some police, some residents still managed to enter Agoncillo stealthily. Some of them passed under a bridge to avoid watchers.

Police had to go inside the town to escort some stubborn residents out of the danger zone. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News