Residents around Taal Volcano fear loss of livelihood, property

Residents evacuated from Taal Volcano in Batangas said they were worried about their livelihood and property, according to a report by Jonathan Andal on “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

Juliana, one of the residents, said she wanted to live in another place because it was difficult evacuating every time the volcano erupted.

She said that their municipal government had promised that there would be a housing program when the volcano erupted in 2020. However, Juliana said she was among those who did not receive a house.

“Hanggang sa ngayon pumutok na naman ang bulkan, hindi naman natupad,” she added.

(Until now, the volcano erupted again, it was not fulfilled.)

Meanwhile, Nanay Guadalupe narrated that she was struggling with her financial needs as her remaining P2,500 was used to buy ingredients for her food business.

But when the Taal erupted on Saturday, Nanay Gudalupe had to leave all of the dishes.

“Siyempre bulok! Kung ako naman ay uuwi at magtitinda, wala naman bibili,” she lamented.

(Of course, it all went bad! If I go home and sell, no one will buy my food.)

Courier service driver Romualdo was in similar difficulties as he delivers parcels within the volcano's seven-kilometer danger zone.

While food was being provided at evacuation centers, Agoncillo Mayor Daniel Reyes feared that they might not be able to feed the 2,000 people at the centers.

“Medyo mabiga-bigat po iyan. Humihingi po ako ng tulong sa mga NGOs natin or sa provincial or national [government] na mabigyan kami for community kitchen,” said Reyes.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, it would take at least two weeks before residents can go back to their homes as Taal Volcano would remain under an Alert Level 2 during those two weeks.

Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office estimated that around 4,000 persons were evacuated due to the Taal Volcano unrest.

Aside from the towns of Agoncillo and Laurel, which are in the seven-kilometer danger zone, some residents voluntarily evacuated from the towns of Balete, Talisay, and Cuenca.

PHIVOLCS on Saturday placed Taal Volcano under an Alert Level 3 due to a short-lived phreatomagmatic burst on Saturday, March 26. — Mel Matthew Doctor/DVM, GMA News