QUEZON CITY -- The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and its regional counterpart in Calabarzon are closely monitoring the situation in the region after the phreatomagmatic bursts in Taal Volcano and raising of alert level 3 yesterday, July 1.
In 8:00 a. m. Taal volcano bulletin today, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has recorded four short phreatomagmatic eruptions in Taal Volcano.
Calabarzon Regional DRRMC has been coordinating with the mayors of affected areas in Batangas for resource augmentation for response operations if the volcano remains unrest.
Affected population include areas of Poblacion, and Sinturisan in San Nicolas; Gulod, Buso Buso, Bugaan West, and Bugaan East in Laurel; Subic Ilaya, Banyaga, and Bilibinwang in Agoncillo; Apacay, Taal; Luyos, and Boot in Tanauan City, and San Sebastian, Balete.
In latest situation report of Batangas Provincial DRRMO, there are already 345 affected families or of 1,392 individuals. A total of 317 families or 1,282 individuals are being served inside 11 evacuation centers while 28 families or 110 individuals are outside evacuation centers or those who stayed in their relatives and friends.
Regional offices of government agencies and uniformed services in Calabarzon have also implemented measures for the affected areas and are in full alert status to provide assistance if the need arises.
In an emergency meeting conducted by RDRRMC yesterday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government Calabarzon reported that it has released an advisory to Batangas and Cavite Local Government Units for measures to be implemented.
Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista meanwhile issued an alert order on Taal situation. DSWD Calabarzon already prepositioned food packs amounting to 1.4 million pesos and non-food items worth 11M pesos for the affected population.
Deployment of medical personnel has been also set on stand-by with continuous coordination with the Provincial Health Offices, the Department of Health said.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology is coordinating with telecommunications companies and National Telecommunications Commission in preparation for communication concerns.
The Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine Coast Guard have activated their task groups for the deployment of personnel and prepositioned their respective assets.
In support of response, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said it has also prepositioned its floating assets and vehicles for mobilization.
Issuance of advisories from various government agencies and information arms of the government is also being conducted.
The NDRRMC, RDRRMCs, member agencies, and uniformed services continue to monitor the situation and prepare to provide assistance for the affected population.
The NDRRMC will convene this afternoon to further discuss the situation and measures to be implemented for the affected residents. (OCD)
