Science and Technology Undersecretary Renato Solidum Jr. said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) may lower the alert status over Taal Volcano from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2 if there will be no eruption in the next two weeks.
“Kung tuloy-tuloy na humupa starting today, walang explosion, puwede tayong magbaba ng alerto within two weeks. (If it continues to subside starting today, without an explosion, we can lower the alert within two weeks),” Solidum, who is also the Phivolcs OIC, said in a taped televised briefing on Tuesday evening, March 29.
He said that Taal Volcano will remain under Alert Level 3 until then.
“Hindi pa natin nakikita ang ganoong mga parametro para magtaas ng Alert Level 4. So ano po ang inaasahan natin? Sa kasalukuyan, puwede pong sustain lang sa Alert Level 3 (We have not yet seen such parameters to raise Alert Level 4. So what do we expect? Currently, we can only sustain at Alert Level 3),” Solidum added.
In its bulletin issued on Wednesday, March 30, Phivolcs said the Taal Volcano Network recorded four volcanic tremor events having durations of two to five minutes and low-level background tremor that has persisted since March 29.
The upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Taal Lake still dominated the activity at the volcano’s main crater, which generated plumes 1,500 meters high.
Moreover, Taal Volcano released an average of 4,474 tons per day of sulfur dioxide (SO2) on March 29.
Due to Taal Volcano’s increasing unrest, Phivolcs raised the active volcano’s alert status to Level 3 on March 26.
“This means that there is a magmatic intrusion at the Main Crater that may further drive succeeding eruptions,” Phivolcs said.
It “strongly” recommended the evacuation of those in Taal Volcano Island and high-risk barangays of Bilibinwang and Banyaga in Agoncillo town and Boso-boso, Gulod, and eastern Bugaan East in Laurel town, both in the province of Batangas due to the “possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami should stronger eruptions subsequently occur.”
Phivolcs also reminded the public that the entire Taal Volcano Island is a permanent danger zone, and entry into the island and high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel must be prohibited.
All activities on Taal Lake should not be allowed, Phivolcs said.
Likewise, communities around the Taal Lake shores were advised to remain vigilant, take precautionary measures against possible airborne ash and vog or volcanic smog and calmly prepare for possible evacuation should unrest intensify.
“Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying over Taal Volcano Island as airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and pyroclastic density currents such as base surges may pose hazards to aircraft,” Phivolcs said.