MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured the public on Thursday that the government is doing the necessary preparations and watching closely the ongoing restiveness of the Mayon and Taal volcanoes.

“Right now, what we are doing is preparing and moving people away from the area so that, should the time come, I hope it doesn’t happen, but unfortunately the science tells us na parang ganun na nga ang mangyayari kasi ‘yung the lid or the cap on top of the lava is slowly rising, not so slowly rising, at baka puputok nga. Kaya’t nakaabang tayo nang husto at naka-ready na naman tayo,” Marcos said during a media interview following his attendance at the Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) Award Ceremony at the Manila Hotel.

“We watch it very, very closely. Make sure that any of the communities that could be affected are evacuated and are given assistance while they are evacuated until the time that they can return to their homes,” he said.

The Mayon Volcano condition is a little bit more advanced although lava hasn’t started to flow, he said.

In the case of Taal Volcano, the problem is it started releasing toxic gas, which started to affect the residents nearby, the President said.

“The DOH (Department of Health) is looking after those people and we have analyzed the problem and we know where the wind is blowing. Kaya’t alam na natin kung saan dadaan ‘yung mga toxic na gases kaya’t paiiwasin na natin ‘yung mga tao na nakatira doon sa area na ‘yun,” he said.

Mayon Volcano was placed on Alert Level 3 on Thursday after exhibiting increase in rockfall events since June 3.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) warned that a potential explosive activity could occur within weeks or days after the volcano exhibited magmatic eruption. (PND)