POLICE have forcibly evacuated residents of five barangays in Agoncillo and Laurel municipalities in Batangas amid the dangers posed by a Taal Volcano eruption, Police Regional Office (PRO) 4-A director Brigadier General Eliseo DC Cruz said.

As of Friday afternoon, nearly 1,300 local residents are already staying in government-run evacuation centers in the province although the number could grow up to around 15,000 persons or some 3,500 families once the volcano continues to display more great danger to the public.

Alert Level 3 has been declared over Taal Volcano as magma extruding from the main crater could trigger a much explosive and bigger eruption, said the Phivolcs.

According to the Calabarzon police chief, the move to evacuate the residents of the five ‘high-risk areas’ was made following an emergency meeting convened by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 4-A on Thursday.

However, he maintained that the protocol on provincial level will be followed temporarily in response to the ongoing activity of the volcano.

“In said meeting, the protocol on ‘provincial level’ will be observed temporarily with Batangas Provincial DRRMO as lead office with five coastal barangays directed to initiate forced evacuation,” Cruz said.

Forcibly evacuated by the police and local barangay officials were residents of Bgys. Banyaga and Bilbinwang in Agoncillo and Bgys. Gulod, Buso-Buso and Lakeshore Bugaan East in Laurel municipality.

Bgys. Gulod, Buso-Buso, Bugaan West and Bugaan East in Laurel are among the 13 villages affected by Taal’s explosion which sent volcanic ash skyrocketing as far as some parts of Metro Manila and other parts of Calabarzon region.

The others are Bgys. Subic Ilaya, Banyaga and Bilibinwang in Agoncillo; Bgys. Poblacion and Sinturisan in San Nicolas; Bgy. Apacay in Taal; Bgy. Luyos and Boot in Tanauan City; and Bgy. San Sebastian in Balete municipality.

Cruz has ordered the Batangas Police Provincial Office headed by Colonel Glicerio Cansilao to fully assist personnel of their stations in all areas affected by the volcano eruption.

He also echoed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar’s order to fully secure all government-run evacuation centers in the province and see to it that minimum public health protocols like social distancing and the wearing of face masks and face shields will be followed amid the continuing threats of COVID-19.

Cruz also asked the Laguna and Cavite PPOs to discourage non-residents especially tourists from Metro Manila and other parts of the country from going to Tagaytay City and other affected areas to help prevent confusion and ensure orderly management of the present situation in Batangas.

He likewise advised volunteers or donors of relief goods to proceed directly to the Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office hub and offer their services and other help.

Enforce heath protocols in evac centers

Eleazar on Friday ordered concerned police units to coordinate with local officials on how the minimum health safety protocol would be observed inside the evacuation centers.

“Makikipag-ugnayan tayo sa local health officials at sa LGUs kung paano natin maipapatupad ang minimum public health safety standards sa mga evacuation centers. Alam naman natin ang sitwasyon sa mga evacuation centers kaya dapat ay magkaroon din tayo ng guideline upang maiwasan natin ang posibleng hawaan dahil nandito pa rin ang banta ng COVID-19,” the top cop said.

Eleazar also ordered Cruz to distribute face masks to residents if possible, not just for COVID-19 protection, but also against the hazardous emissions of the volcano.

“I have already instructed Brig. Gen. Cruz to deploy as many police vehicles and PNP personnel to assist in the evacuation of residents of Batangas and other areas that need to be moved to safe places,” he said.

“Our police commanders were also instructed to coordinate with the local DRRMCs not only for the evacuation of the affected residents but also in the assessment of their needs as well as ensuring the health and safety at the evacuation centers,” he added.

The volcano’s main crater generated a “short-lived” 1 km-high phreatomagmatic plume at 3:16 p.m. of Thursday, with no accompanying earthquake, according to the Phivolcs which raised Alert Level 3 over Taal Volcano.

Following this, Eleazar tasked police units in Calabarzon to activate their respective Disaster Incident Management Task Groups as they may be tapped following the phreatic eruption of the Taal Volcano.

The PNP chief likewise ordered the PRO-3 in Central Luzon, PRO4-B in Mimaropa, PRO5 in Bicol and the National Capital Region Police Office to prepare in case their assistance is needed soon.

“To the Regional Directors of these Police Offices, prepare your assets and personnel for possible deployment,” he said.

The official also reminded residents to follow orders from local authorities for their own safety.

“Dapat maging alerto ang publiko at sumunod sa mga ipag-uutos o paalala ng ating mga lokal na opisyal dahil para din ito sa kanilang kaligtasan. Kung kailangang lumikas, lumikas na agad at may mga nakahanda namang facilities para sa mga evacuees. Nakahanda rin po ang inyong kapulisan para alalayan kayo,” he said.

Phivolcs has advised residents of Taal Volcano Island and the high-risk barangays in the municipalities of Agoncillo and Laurel to evacuate due to possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami.

Calabarzon health facilities on full alert

Meanwhile, Department of Health (DOH)-Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) placed all health facilities in Batangas on full alert.

OIC-Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco said all health facilities in the province have been placed on code white alert and ready to provide emergency care in case of mass casualties or emergencies.

“The Batangas DOH-Provincial Health Team Office is now mobilized and prepared to provide preventive health measures that may be caused by volcanic eruption including burns, suffocation, skin diseases, respiratory problems and even death. We will be providing N95 masks and jerry cans to residents in high-risk areas in preparation for evacuation,” she said.

Sydiongco advised residents of communities near the volcano to wear facemasks and face shields due to the volcanic smog or vog.

“Exposure to the vog can cause irritation to the eyes, throat and respiratory tract irritation. Those with health conditions including the elderly, pregnant women and children are most vulnerable to its effects,” she explained.

The health official also reminded residents that despite the new emergency situation, they still have to adhere to the minimum public health standards required to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Pinaalahanan din natin ang mga residente na tayo ay nasa pandemya pa rin at kailangan nating sumunod sa mga community health protocals gaya ng social distancing, pagsusuot ng face mask at paghuhugas ng kamay. Sa mga komunidad na nakatira sa paligid ng Taal, doblehin po natin ang pag-iingat at manatiling nakaantabay sa mga anunsiyo at sumunod sa mga utos ng ating acting lokal na pamahalaan para sa ating kaligtasan,” she stressed. With Lee Ann P. Ducusin