PRRD declares state of calamity in Calabarzon amid Taal unrest

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte leads the ceremonial distribution of calamity assistance to the families affected by the Taal Volcano eruption at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Sto. Tomas Campus in Sto. Tomas City, Batangas on January 20, 2020. Malacañang on Tuesday (Jan. 28) assured Duterte will address the recovery needs of the evacuees. (Presidential photo by Ace Morandante via Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines)/Facebook)

MANILA – The entire Calabarzon (Region 4-A) has been placed under a state of calamity in wake of Taal Volcano eruption last month.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation 906 on Feb. 21 declaring Calabarzon under a state of calamity to “hasten the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts of the government and the private sector, including any international humanitarian assistance.”

Calabarzon being placed under a state of calamity will “effectively control the prices of basic goods and commodities for the affected areas.”

It will afford the national government and local government units (LGUs) ample leeway to utilize appropriate funds for the rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation of, and to continue to provide basic services for, affected populations.

The state of calamity will remain in force and effect for one year unless sooner lifted.

Under the proclamation, all departments and other concerned government agencies are directed to implement and execute rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation work in accordance with pertinent operational plans and directives.

All departments and other concerned government agencies are also directed to coordinate with and provide or augment the basic services and facilities of affected LGUs.

Law enforcement agencies, with support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, are directed to undertake all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in affected areas, as may be necessary.

Duterte approved the proposal to grant around 5,448 housing units to families residing within the seven-kilometer radius danger zone near the restive Taal Volcano during the 46th Cabinet meeting held at Malacañan Palace on February 4.

On January 12, Taal Volcano spewed volcanic steam and ashes, causing the drifting and spread of volcanic particles over several areas in Luzon including Metro Manila.

Taal Volcano’s unrest has caused widespread damage to properties and poses great risks and danger to the health and safety of the people living near the region around the volcano.

Government records show that 129,171 families or 483,389 persons in the provinces of Batangas, Quezon, Laguna, and Cavite were affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has lowered Taal Volcano’s alert status from alert level 4 to alert level 3 on January 26.

On February 20, Phivolcs said the volcano’s alert status may be further downgraded to alert level 1 once a continuous decrease is noted within two weeks.

However, the agency warned that steam-driven explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall, and lethal volcanic gas expulsions can still occur and threaten areas within the Taal Volcano Island and nearby lakeshores

Entry into the Taal Volcano lsland and areas over Taal Lake and communities west of the island within a seven-kilometer radius from the main crater remain strictly prohibited.