‘Window hours’ for Taal fishers being studied

The Batangas provincial government is already discussing the implementation of window hours for fishermen in Taal lake.

Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office chief Joselito Castro said the fishing industry in Taal is large so it cannot be neglected amidst the volcanic eruption.

So far, some LGUs are issuing passes but some are struggling to get through to feed their pets.

“Kahit kahapon, nanghahabol pa nga po ang Coast Guard natin doon sa talagang mga lumulusot. Pinag-uusapan nga po ngayon, kung saka-sakaling may paghupa ang aktibidad ng bulkan, kung mabibigyan ng window hour, kasi ito pinapakain po araw-araw ang mga isdang ito,” said Castro.

Additional evacuation centers have been opened in 2 towns in Batangas for evacuees near the Taal volcano.

According to Castro, the evacuation continued especially on Sunday when the highest record of volcanic sulfur dioxide reached more than 22,000 tons.

The Batangas PDRRMO has ensured that local governments are prepared for the worst case, and evacuation centers have been set up in other districts to avoid congestion.

‘Window hours’ for Taal fishers being studied

Today, only one or two families live in a room.

Alert Level 3 (Magmatic Unrest) now prevails over Taal Volcano. At Alert Level 3, magma extruding from the Main Crater could drive explosive eruption.

The public is reminded that the entire Taal Volcano Island is a Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), and entry into the island and into the high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel must be prohibited due to the hazards of pyroclastic density currents, and volcanic tsunami should strong eruptions occur.

In the past 24-hour period, the Taal Volcano Network recorded thirty-nine (39) volcanic earthquakes, including two (2) volcanic tremor events having durations of three (3) to five (5) minutes, thirty-five (35) low frequency volcanic earthquakes, two (2) hybrid earthquakes and low-level background tremor that has persisted since 08 April 2021.

High levels of volcanic sulfur dioxide or SO2 gas emissions and steam-rich plumes that rose as much as three thousand (3,000) meters high before drifting south and east were generated from the Taal Main Crater.