Agoncillo and Laurel towns lift lockdown as Taal retains reduced alert status
BATANGAS — Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas lifted the lockdown in the towns of Agoncillo and Laurel, the two remaining areas where the order remains hoisted, after Phivolcs lowered Taal Volcano's alert status from 4 to 3.
In his Bulletin Number 4, residents of the two towns were given an option to enter, except for those living in the six barangays within the seven-kilometer radius danger zone. These are Barangays Bilibinwang, Subi Ilaya and Banyaga in Agoncillo and Barangays Gulod, Buso-buso and Bigaan East in Laurel.
Mandanas on Sunday re-opened the lockdown areas in 12 municipalities and cities that were hardest hit by volcanic ashfall.
Agoncillo Mayor Daniel Reyes, in a phone interview Monday, said his constituents immediately started cleaning their houses and fed their animals as soon as we open the roads.
Reyes, however, said that most of his constituents decided to stay in evacuation areas as they have no other place where they could seek refuge.
"Maraming bahay ang nasira dahil sa binagsak na abo, marami ring kalsada ang natabunan kaya kailangan namin ng tulong ng DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) at ng probinsya" Reyes said.
Reyes said he told Agoncillo residents to send the men or heads of the families first to clean up their homes before sending the elders and children who were more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses.
Asked for his comment on the proposal to permanently lockdown areas within the 14-km radius danger zone, which includes Agoncillo, he said this might not be received well by his constituents.
"Hindi naman siguro makakapayag ang aking mga constituents, mahal nila ang aming lugar, dito narin ang kanilang hanap-buhay, siguro naman aabutin pa uli ng 50 years bago uli pumutok ang bulkan" Reyes said.
He added that electricity and water supply have been partially restored. The town mayor also said that he gave window hours to residents of the three barangays within the seven-kilometer radius danger zone so they could feed their animals and visit their houses.
In Laurel, the local government also allowed residents to return to their homes except for those living within the seven kilometer-radius hazard zone.
The Taal Volcano Island, consisting of five barangays namely Sitio Tabla and Barangay San Isidro of Talisay; Barangay Calawit of Balete; and Barangay Alas-as and Barangay Pulang Bato in San Nicolas remains off-limits.
Get updates as Phivolcs issues warnings over activity in Taal Volcano. (Main photo by Philstar.com/Rosette Adel)
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issues a notice reporting an increased and continuous degassing activity from Taal Volcano.
In its 6 p.m. advisory, Phivolcs says the sulfur dioxide emission from the main crater reached 9762 tonnes per day. This was the higher recorded this year.
Phivolcs adds that there was no smog or vog observed. — Rosette Adel
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology says Taal Volcano is still under Alert Level 1.
In an update on Wednesday, its says that the daily sulfur dioxide emissions (SO2) reached 2887 tonnes / day (06 October 2023).
Phivolcs also observes upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Main Crater Lake. — Rosette Adel
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reports that Taal Volcano's daily sulfur dioxide emissions (SO2) reached 2887 tonnes.
It observes upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Main Crater Lake as well as volcanic smog or vog.
The volcano's emissions are also 2400 meters tall. — Rosette Adel
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology releases time-lapse snapshots of degassing activity from the Taal Main Crater and volcanic smog or vog formation on Sunday.
These were taken from 5:45 a.m. to 11:42 a.m. by the Mt. Macolot, Cuenca, Batangas station (VTCU) IP Camera.
LOOK: Time-lapse snapshots of degassing activity from the Taal Main Crater and volcanic smog or vog formation taken from 05:45 AM to 11:42 AM today, 8 October 2023 by the Mt. Macolot, Cuenca, Batangas station (VTCU) IP Camera. pic.twitter.com/jp48R1IZQy
— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) October 8, 2023
— Rosette Adel
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology records daily sulfur dioxide emissions that reached 2730 tonnes / day (22 September 2023).
It also observes upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Main Crater Lake and observed VOG.
Phivolcs adds that there is a ong-term deflation of the Taal Caldera; short-term inflation of the northern flanks of the Taal Volcano Island.
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