4 towns near Taal under total lockdown

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has implemented a total lockdown in four towns near Taal Volcano, preventing people from entering the area within the 14-kilometer danger zone, which is susceptible to ballistic projectiles, base surges and volcanic tsunami.

The PNP has established checkpoints in Laurel, Taal, Agoncillo and Talisay towns to prevent people from entering the “off limits” zone.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año advised the affected residents not to risk their lives by going back to their homes as the mandatory evacuation remains in effect in 14 areas comprising of the towns of Agoncillo, Alitagtag, Balete, Cuenca, Laurel, Lemery, Malvar, Mataas na Kahoy, San Nicolas, Sta. Teresita, Taal and Talisay and the cities of Lipa and Tanauan.

“Let us put your lives and safety above your properties. Let us follow authorities and remain in safe areas until this is over,” he said in Filipino.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya clarified though that local government units “may allow, on a case to case basis, access to the high-risk areas but this has to be done in coordination with local disaster officials and is dependent on prevailing conditions.”

Batangas police director Col. Edwin Quilates said local authorities have given evacuees a window of two hours to return to their homes and save their livestock, belongings or properties.

He ordered police officers to maintain maximum tolerance and understand what people are going through, considering that the residents have already suffered much.

“I told my officers to remain calm and understand the plight of these people. We all know that the situation is stressful,” Quilates said.

To make things easier to monitor, the PNP designated only one entry and one exit point for every affected town or city. Residents must log their names at security checkpoints and they will be escorted out if they go beyond the time limit.

The PNP also deployed a special anti-looting task force to patrol the danger zones and ensure that the properties of evacuees will be protected.

Malacañang urged affected residents to cooperate after President Duterte declared the Taal Volcano island a “no man’s land.” 

Duterte said on Tuesday that no person should stay within the island until it is declared safe by government agencies, following the science department’s recommendation to close it because of the possibility of a hazardous eruption.?“The island volcano of Taal is a permanent danger zone, which suggests that the locality is not fit for human settlement. The Palace is therefore asking the public, particularly those who have been living in the island, for their cooperation and understanding as it is the primordial duty of the government to protect not only their safety and welfare but their very lives,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement. 

The DILG ordered on Wednesday mandatory evacuation of residents in the 12 towns. At least 217 facilities in Cavite and Laguna provinces have become temporary shelters for the evacuees.