By Argyll Geducos Malacañang defended the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) after a lawmaker pushed to probe the agency over its supposed failure to inform the public about Taal Volcano's imminent eruption. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo (PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement after Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. called on the House of Representatives to investigate how the government responded to the eruption, citing an alleged "lack" of warnings issued to the public about the eruption. In his Thursday press briefing, Panelo came to the defense of the state seismology bureau, saying nobody could have predicted a volcanic eruption in the first place. "As if malalaman mo kung kailan puputok ang bulkan (As if anybody can tell when a volcano will erupt)," he said. "But anyway that's the prerogative and privilege of the legislature to call for hearing in aid of legislation. 'Di hayaan mo sila (Let them be)." According to Panelo, as far as the Palace was concerned, Phivolcs had no lapses related to communicating to the public information about the Taal Volcano eruption. "Magaling nga itong si Director Solidum, eh. Mahusay magpaliwanag, eh (Director Solidum is good at his job. He explains very well)." Panelo said unlike typhoons which can be monitored as they move, the same cannot be done for volcanic activities."Nakikita natin brewing. On the basis of that, nakukha nila kung saan papunta, gaano kabilis, kalakas. Pero yung pagputok o earthquake, hindi mo mape-predict yun (We can see the typhoon brewing and with that, we can see where it will go, how fast, and how strong it is. But we cannot do that with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions).” The Palace official also said President Duterte was satisfied with Phivolcs and that the government will provide funds to replace their equipment damaged by the eruption and would even buy the agency new ones. "That goes without saying. Kung may nasira, kailangan palitan (If something was damaged, then we need to replace it)." "Nasa Phivolcs 'yan. 'Pag nag-request sila na kailangan nila ang isang bagay to make them more effective, siyempre ibibigay natin (That's up to Phivolcs. If they request for new equipment to make them more effective, then of course we will give it to them)." Barzaga filed House Resolution No. 643 on Monday, saying there were "no news bulletins or SMS alerts" from Phivolcs or any other government agencies when Taal started showing signs of volcanic activity. While recognizing the challenges faced by Phivolcs, Barzaga insisted there should still be an investigation of the state seismology bureau to determine if it has the technical expertise to "make a timely forecast of the Taal Volcano eruption."