Residents living near Taal Volcano urged to remain vigilant

Malacañang on Sunday urged all residents living near the vicinity of Taal Volcano to remain alert and vigilant amid increased volcanic activity in recent days.

In a statement, acting presidential spokesperson and Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said they are closely monitoring the situation in the areas near Taal Volcano.

“We urge all residents of affected barangays and communities to remain alert and vigilant, get news updates from trusted sources and authorities, and cooperate with concerned agencies while the volcano situation is being monitored for any developments,” Andanar said.

Andanar said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and its regional counterparts, together with the local government units, are implementing all relevant precautionary measures, including evacuation of high-risk communities near the volcano island as well as the fishermen in Taal Lake.

He noted that the Department of Social Welfare and Development has Quick Response Teams and standby stockpiles of food and non-food items to augment local supplies when needed.

As of Sunday morning, there are 854 families or 2,894 persons inside 12 evacuation centers in CALABARZON.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Saturday raised the status of Taal Volcano to Alert Level 3 following a phreatomagmatic eruption. — Mel Matthew Doctor/BM, GMA News