Palace monitoring Taal volcano eruption

By Prince Golez

Malacañang said it was “closely monitoring” the situation following the phreatomagmatic eruptions that occurred in Taal Volcano.

In a statement on Friday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said evacuation activities in high-risk barangays in Laurel and Agoncillo and in other nearby Batangas municipalities are ongoing.

“Local government units are leading the efforts on the ground through their Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices with the support of counterparts in the line agencies,” added Roque.

The secretary said the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 4-A is on “heightened alert” and has stockpiles of relief support consisting of food packs amounting to P1.4 million and non-food items worth P11 million.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Luzon Command has activated Joint Task Force Taal to assist operations of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the local government units, according to him.

The Philippine National Police in CALABARZON, he added, has been placed on alert and is coordinating with local government units to assist residents.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Logistics Systems Command has also deployed vehicles and personnel to support the PCG District Southern Tagalog in the conduct of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Roque said the Palace also encouraged residents in the areas surrounding the volcano lake to “remain vigilant, take precautionary measures, and cooperate with their local authorities should the need for evacuation arise.”

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)