OVER 5,600 individuals from high-risk villages were displaced due to the unrest of Taal Volcano, the Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said on Monday, March 28, 2022.In a television interview, Batangas PDRRMO chief Lito Castro said the 1,541 displaced families, or a total of 5,693 individuals, were from the villages of Agoncillo and Laurel, which are within the seven-kilometer danger zone of the Taal Volcano.They are currently staying in various evacuation centers in the province.Castro said only two families were allowed per room to ensure the maintenance of minimum public health protocols.“Karaniwan po pangangailangan natin pagkain at tubig ‘yung ating mga hygiene kits at ‘yung mga non-food items po pero simula pa po nung Sabado, meron na pong iba’t-ibang grupo na nagpapahayag na ng tulong nagpapadala ng mga pangangailangan nila,” he said.(We usually need food, water and hygiene kits, but since Saturday, some groups have already pledged to provide the families’ needs.)“Ang amin lang pong binibilin ay meron po kasing limitation ang Comelec (Commission on Elections) because of election ba, so hindi po pupwede ang mga kandidato na magbigay directly or indirectly, even their relatives or accomplices, bawal po yun, so i-cocoordinate po ito sa Red Cross,” Castro added.(The Comelec has put some limitations to who can donate. Candidates cannot give directly or indirectly, even their relatives and accomplices, that’s illegal, so all donations have to be coordinated with the Red Cross.)In a situational report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said some families in the villages of San Lusi, Taal, Calaca, and Calatagan have also been affected.The Malacañang said it is closely monitoring the situation in the affected areas, ensuring the readiness of the Quick Response Teams and the standby stockpile of food and non-food items to augment local supplies when needed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.“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,” it said in a statement.On Saturday, March 26, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the status of Taal Volcano to Alert Level 3 due to a phreatomagmatic eruption of the main crater.In its bulletin on Monday, March 28, the bureau said that in the past 24 hours, the Taal Volcano Network did not detect any volcanic earthquakes.Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said the Alert Level 3 will remain even if no activities were recorded in 24 hours.”Nananatiling nasa Alert Level 3 ito. Bawal pumunta sa volcano island at ‘yung mga ilang barangays ng Agoncillo at Laurel na inirekomenda natin for evacuation, ay ganun pa rin ang ating abiso,” he said in a television interview.(Alert Level 3 remains. Going into the volcano island is not allowed and we still recommend evacuation in some barangays like Agoncillo and Laurel.)Solidum also advised residents living near the Taal Volcano to wear N95 masks so as not to acquire illnesses that may be brought about by the inhalation of ashfall.”Kung wala talaga, mas maganda na rin mag-stay indoors. Saraduhan ang mga bintana at pintuan para hindi pasukin ang bahay ng gas,” he said.(If there’s no N95, stay indoors. Close the windows and doors to prevent gas from entering your house.)The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it has deployed additional policemen in the affected areas, especially to prevent individuals from entering the danger zones.The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) District Southern Tagalog was also placed on heightened alert due to the volcano’s activities.PCG commandant Admiral Artemio Abu has ordered the dispatch of a Deployable Response Group (DRG) to oversee the situation.He also ordered patrolling at the PCG sub-stations in Talisay and San Nicolas to implement forced evacuation among the fishermen and fish cage workers in the waters surrounding the Taal Volcano.The PCG will also assist in the conduct of evacuation of the affected residents. (SunStar Philippines)