The local social action team of the Archdiocese of Lipa in Batangas is ready to respond amid the reported increase in Taal Volcano's activity. Lipa Archdiocesan Social Action Commission (LASAC) program officer Paulo Ferrer said the diocese together with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) is continuously monitoring the activity of the volcano, which is currently under Alert Level 1. He noted that when the volcano's status is raised to Alert Level 2, the LASAC operation will immediately be raised to code blue. "Once Code Blue (is raised), 50 percent of the operation is concentrated for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC); replenishment of stockpiled food and non-food items; organizational measures such as EOC organizational chart will be followed,' said the LASAC official in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas on Tuesday. Ferrer added that except for fishers, there are no other residents living on Taal Volcano Island (TVI) since Phivolcs banned entry to the island which is part of the volcano's permanent danger zone. 'No one lives in TVI anymore. Only the fish pen operators who are there to feed the fish on a daily basis,' he said. At the same time, the LASAC reminded residents around the volcano to use N95 face masks as protection against volcanic smog (vog); drink plenty of water to avoid throat irritation and stay indoors to limit exposure to vog. The archdiocese continues to call for more vigilance and preparedness in case the situation worsens. It also asked the people to pray the Oratio Imperata in relation to the activities of the Taal Volcano. Phivolcs reported that volcanic tremors were recorded around the volcano continuing since 6:35 a.m. on June 2, as well as 9,391 tons of sulfur dioxide causing vog Meanwhile, the Diocese of Legazpi appealed to the faithful to follow the safety protocols regarding the increased possibility of an eruption of the Mayon Volcano which is under Alert Level 2. Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon said the people should follow the guidelines set by the Phivolcs to prevent casualties in case of a volcanic eruption. "Phivolcs is reminding the communities near Mayon Volcano that the raising of Alert Level 2 means nobody should go within the 6-km permanent danger zone," he said in a separate radio interview. "The raising of the Alert Level means that there is a possibility that there will be an eruption of the volcano," the Catholic prelate added. On Monday, Phivolcs raised Alert Level 2 at Mayon Volcano in Albay after recording 49 rockfall events during a 24-hour period, which is much higher than the daily average rockfall events only at five.
Source: Philippines News Agency