Disaster response teams from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have been activated as the magmatic unrest of Taal Volcano persists.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said that a total of 826 personnel with 107 equipment are now prepositioned around Taal Volcano in case another eruption happens.
“As a response to the recent Taal Volcano activity, we have prepared an action plan for pre, during, and post-disaster response," Villar said.
According to the DPWH Bureau of Maintenance, quick response teams (QRTs) from the DPWH Regional Office IV-A and all its 16 district engineering offices (DEO) are ready to be deployed to assist in the event of evacuation, and clearing operation of national roads.
"Under our action plan, our QRTs will be clustered into six command centers strategically located around the volcano to make our response operations efficient,” the secretary said.
Command centers are located in DPWH Batangas 1st DEO in Balayan, Batangas 2nd DEO in Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas 3rd DEO in Tanauan, Batangas 4th DEO in Lipa City, Cavite 2nd DEO in Alfonzo, and Cavite 3rd DEO in Carmona.
“These command centers will ensure that national roads and bridges in their area are passable and shall identify alternative roads for response operations. They shall also provide temporary structures to restore mobility when necessary,” the secretary added.