By Hanah Tabios  Despite criticism from Talisay Vice Mayor Charlie Natanauan, the country’s state volcanologists diplomatically addressed the distressed local official, saying they respect his opinion but maintained their recommendations based on scientific data. (MANILA BULLETIN) Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) official Maria Antonia Bornas, the agency’s Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division chief, said Tuesday they understand the mayor’s concern, but argued “we are firm in our science.” Natanauan lambasted Phivolcs on Monday for giving “sensationalized” advisories which he believes unnecessarily displaced thousands of residents in disaster-hit Batangas province. Speaking to a radio program, the local official criticized chief seismologist Renato Solidum over Taal Volcano’s alert warnings, saying the veteran scientist should change his “opinion” about the impending danger. Natanauan cast doubt on Solidum’s statements, based on his father’s personal account of the September 1965 Taal volcano eruption. But Bornas said the warnings given by the agency prepare the province for the possibility of a destructive eruption. “We are trying to prepare the province before this eruption . ‘Yung sense of urgency was very important to stress to them that this can happen any day.” Bornas said the agency “can understand” that the mayor is under much stress, as all concerned local government units have been considering a lot of factors in their decision making process. However, the agency is firm that all recommendations coming from their end are based on all available scientific data and evidences at hand. She also sympathized with the displaced residents, but said the warnings given are for their own sake. “We understand ‘yung (their) plight nila, so we are working doubly hard so we can give them the first information. We will be the first one to say if it’s safe to go back, because we have them in mind all the time. Alam naman po natin ang (We know the) plight ng mga nadi-displace (of those who are displaced), especially ‘yung mga nasa (those in) evacuation center,” she said. With Alert Level 4 still raised over Taal Volcano, Phivolcs reiterated its call to residents to obey the authorities’ orders to evacuate and avoid returning to their homes, particularly those who live in high risk areas or within the 14-kilometer danger zone. “Paalalahanan po natin ang mga kababayang Batangueño na mangyari po lamang na tayo ay umiwas at manatiling nakalikas mula sa high risk areas ng Taal Volcano, dahil nananatili po ang panganib na pagputok ng bulkan na malakas,” she said. (We are reminding our countrymen in Batangas to avoid the high risk areas around the volcano and remain in evacuation, because the possibility of a massive eruption still remains.) READ MORE: Talisay vice mayor in viral anti-Phivolcs statements faces sanctions