President Marcos said the government is closely monitoring the current situation of Taal Volcano, stressing that "they know what to do."
"We have SOPs (standard operating procedures) in place. We have standard procedures. Everybody— when the volcano erupts or the storm comes or magkalindol (an earthquake occurs) or whatever—they know what to do," Marcos said in an interview on the sidelines of Lab for All program caravan in Pasig City on Thursday, Oct. 3.
The President said they are monitoring the situation in various areas near the volcano in order to determine areas that "need special attention."
He also ensured the public that the experts fielded by the government to closely monitor and handle the possible impacts of the Taal Volcano's unrest know how to handle the situation.
"What we have to do is to monitor the situation and continue to see where are the areas — kasi (because) not every situation is the same. So how do we adjust? Where are the areas that need special attention, where are the areas that are okay. So, yun ang ginagawa namin ngayon (So, that's what we are doing now)," Marcos said.
"But again, that’s part of the SOP. You know, the people that we have there know what to do, that’s why I put them there. So, you know we just monitor the situation," Marcos stressed.
The Chief Executive further allayed fears over the volcano's unrest, and assured the public that the safety of the communities around the volcano will be moved out of danger if the situation worsens.
"Right now, Phivolcs (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) is saying huwag muna nating alalahanin masyado (let's not worry about it that much). But I’m sure they will play it safe pagka kailangan, we will have to move people out of the danger area like we always do. So, that’s what we are monitoring now," Marcos said.
Phivolcs reported a minor phreatomagmatic eruption at Taal Volcano on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 2.
The eruption started at 4:21 p.m. and ended at 4:32 p.m., it added.
According to the agency, a phreatomagmatic eruption is “a very violent eruption due to explosive contact of erupting magma with water.”