President Rodrigo Duterte approved Interior Secretary’s recommendation to declare the Taal Volcano Island as “no man’s land” following its eruption last Sunday.
Taal Volcano is still under Alert Level 4, meaning “hazardous eruption is possible within days.”
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) also said the increasing number of cracks and fissures along Batangas roads indicate that magma or molten rock is moving toward the Taal volcano.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, on Wednesday, said Duterte okays the recommendation during the ongoing evacuation operations in areas significantly affected by the Taal’s eruption.
“Yes, it was approved by PRRD [President Rodrigo Roa Duterte], but it would be gradual until relocation for settlers is prepared,” Año said GMA News Online.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana suggested that the Taal Volcano Island should be declared as “no man’s island” during a visit in one of the evacuation centers in Batangas City last Tuesday
“I believed that we should… I strongly believe —recommend that we strictly implement the suggestion or the recommendation that the Taal island will be declared ‘no man’s land,'” Lorenzana had said.
Also read: Pansipit river suddenly dries up, road cracks increase as Taal continues to erupt
NDRRMC warns public against Taal alert level fake news
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) appealed to the public to stop spreading fake news related to Taal Volcano’s alert level.
Information that the Phivolcs allegedly raised the alert level 5 on the volcano was spread yesterday on Facebook and Messenger. As a result, many evacuees got alarmed and worried.
The only information that should be shared is from reliable sources such as the NDRRMC, Office of the Civil Defense, and Phivolcs.
Netizens also stop sharing news, which is not from official sources.
According to the NDRRMC, fake news can cause confusion and panic, especially for affected residents.