Phivolcs welcomes House inquiry into Taal Vocano eruption
Published Jan 20, 2020 12:00 am
By Alexandria San Juan
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said they are open to any legislative inquiry into its monitoring of the Taal Volcano, noting that preparations for its eruption were already in place since last year.
Dr. Renato Solidum
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Phivolcs officer-in-charge Renato Solidum Jr., in a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday, said there are no problems for them to respond to any inquiry regarding their preparations and information dissemination on Taal's eruption. “Wala naman po kaming problema na sumagot sa mga katanungan. Magkaiba po kasi ‘yung perception nung hindi taga-island at taga-Batangas versus outside (We have no problem with responding to the inquiry. The perception of those living in the Taal Volcano Island and Batangas versus outsiders are different),” Solidum said. Solidum stressed this after Cavite 4th District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga sought an investigation into the agency's apparent “lack of warning” on Taal's activity that endangered many residents when it erupted afternoon of January 12. But Solidum reiterated that preparations have been made and several warnings were already issued by the agency on Taal's possible eruption since its recent explosion. “Since March 2019, marami nang ginagawa at the local level sa preparedness diyan sa posibleng pagsabog ng Taal. So, marami na pong mga meeting coordination and sa local level na po ‘yun,” he explained. The state volcanology agency, in its bulletin dated March 28, 2019, already raised the danger level of Taal to 1, meaning that the volcano is at an abnormal condition. It also “strongly advised” against permanent settlement in the entire Taal Volcano Island which is tagged by Phivolcs as a “permanent danger zone.” Solidum also pointed out that the bureau's alert and continuous coordination with the local officials prompted thousands of residents to evacuate to safer areas during the eruption. “Pagdating po nung Linggo, marami pong nailigtas na buhay diyan kasi ‘yung mga tauhan po natin sa Buco, Talisay, Batangas ang nagtatawag sa mga residente at mga opisyales na magsilikas na sila noong nagkaroon na ng maraming paglindol at nakikita na natin sa ating camera ‘yung paglabas ng steaming,” Solidum continued. “Kasi po ‘yung steaming, ang isang indikasyon natin baka magkaroon ng tinatawag na phreatic eruption – pagsabog dahil sa pressure sa steam – at ‘pag nangyari po ‘yan ay baka magtuloy-tuloy ang pagsabog ng bulkan,” he added. Solidum emphasized that they have reminded the public that the Main Crater is already off-limits since the alert status was raised last year. In the same bulletin, Phivolcs said that the Main Crater should be “strictly off-limits” as “sudden steam explosions can occur and high concentrations of lethal volcanic gases can be released.” “Gusto ko lang din emphasize at ito ‘yung ire-remind natin na at alert level one, bawal na po talagang pumasok sa Main Crater kasi nga po ang dahilan doon ay biglang pagsabog dahil sa steam,” Solidum said. A video of tourists who attempted to reach the Main Crater Lake on the day of its eruption has gone viral online and already reached the Phivolcs. “Yun na po ang talagang delikado na kaya nga binabawal po nating pumasok doon sa crater plus mga lugar na kung saan lumalabas ‘yung usok,” he said. Taal Volcano continued to spew ash and steam more than a week after its phreatic or steam-driven eruption which surprised unaware residents and tourists visiting the picturesque lake. The 50,000-feet-tall ash cloud belched by Taal on January 12 blanketed nearby towns, including parts of Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and reaching as far as Central Luzon, forcing residents in the 14-kilometer danger zone to immediately evacuate to safer places. According to Phivolcs, Taal is the second most active volcano in the country in terms of number of eruption, with at least 34 eruptions recorded from 1572 to 1977. Although tagged as the world's smallest volcano, Taal is also one of the deadliest following its violent eruptions in 1754, 1911, and 1965 leaving thousands of casualties due to various volcanic hazards it brought.
Dr. Renato Solidum(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Phivolcs officer-in-charge Renato Solidum Jr., in a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday, said there are no problems for them to respond to any inquiry regarding their preparations and information dissemination on Taal's eruption. “Wala naman po kaming problema na sumagot sa mga katanungan. Magkaiba po kasi ‘yung perception nung hindi taga-island at taga-Batangas versus outside (We have no problem with responding to the inquiry. The perception of those living in the Taal Volcano Island and Batangas versus outsiders are different),” Solidum said. Solidum stressed this after Cavite 4th District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga sought an investigation into the agency's apparent “lack of warning” on Taal's activity that endangered many residents when it erupted afternoon of January 12. But Solidum reiterated that preparations have been made and several warnings were already issued by the agency on Taal's possible eruption since its recent explosion. “Since March 2019, marami nang ginagawa at the local level sa preparedness diyan sa posibleng pagsabog ng Taal. So, marami na pong mga meeting coordination and sa local level na po ‘yun,” he explained. The state volcanology agency, in its bulletin dated March 28, 2019, already raised the danger level of Taal to 1, meaning that the volcano is at an abnormal condition. It also “strongly advised” against permanent settlement in the entire Taal Volcano Island which is tagged by Phivolcs as a “permanent danger zone.” Solidum also pointed out that the bureau's alert and continuous coordination with the local officials prompted thousands of residents to evacuate to safer areas during the eruption. “Pagdating po nung Linggo, marami pong nailigtas na buhay diyan kasi ‘yung mga tauhan po natin sa Buco, Talisay, Batangas ang nagtatawag sa mga residente at mga opisyales na magsilikas na sila noong nagkaroon na ng maraming paglindol at nakikita na natin sa ating camera ‘yung paglabas ng steaming,” Solidum continued. “Kasi po ‘yung steaming, ang isang indikasyon natin baka magkaroon ng tinatawag na phreatic eruption – pagsabog dahil sa pressure sa steam – at ‘pag nangyari po ‘yan ay baka magtuloy-tuloy ang pagsabog ng bulkan,” he added. Solidum emphasized that they have reminded the public that the Main Crater is already off-limits since the alert status was raised last year. In the same bulletin, Phivolcs said that the Main Crater should be “strictly off-limits” as “sudden steam explosions can occur and high concentrations of lethal volcanic gases can be released.” “Gusto ko lang din emphasize at ito ‘yung ire-remind natin na at alert level one, bawal na po talagang pumasok sa Main Crater kasi nga po ang dahilan doon ay biglang pagsabog dahil sa steam,” Solidum said. A video of tourists who attempted to reach the Main Crater Lake on the day of its eruption has gone viral online and already reached the Phivolcs. “Yun na po ang talagang delikado na kaya nga binabawal po nating pumasok doon sa crater plus mga lugar na kung saan lumalabas ‘yung usok,” he said. Taal Volcano continued to spew ash and steam more than a week after its phreatic or steam-driven eruption which surprised unaware residents and tourists visiting the picturesque lake. The 50,000-feet-tall ash cloud belched by Taal on January 12 blanketed nearby towns, including parts of Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and reaching as far as Central Luzon, forcing residents in the 14-kilometer danger zone to immediately evacuate to safer places. According to Phivolcs, Taal is the second most active volcano in the country in terms of number of eruption, with at least 34 eruptions recorded from 1572 to 1977. Although tagged as the world's smallest volcano, Taal is also one of the deadliest following its violent eruptions in 1754, 1911, and 1965 leaving thousands of casualties due to various volcanic hazards it brought.