The entire Region 4-A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon area) is under a state of calamity after nearly 500,000 persons have been affected by the unrest of Taal Volcano.
President Duterte has issued Proclamation No. 906 on the calamity declaration to speed up rescue and rehabilitation efforts, mobilize funds, as well as implement price control of basic goods and commodities in the affected places.
The calamity declaration will remain in force for one year unless sooner lifted in accordance with the law, according to the President.
“I, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby declare a State of Calamity in Region IV-A,” Duterte said in the proclamation.
“All departments and order concerned government agencies are hereby directed to coordinate with and provide or augment the basic services and facilities of affected local government units,” he said.
Duterte has directed law enforcement agencies with the support of the military to implement all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in affected area as may be necessary.
“The declaration of State of Calamity will hasten the rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts of the government and the private sector, including any international humanitarian assistance and will effectively control the prices of basic goods and commodities for the affected areas,” he said.
“This declaration will, among others, afford the National Government as well as local govenrment units ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds for the rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation of and to continue to provide basic services for affected populations in accordance with law.”
The latest presidential order was made upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The proclamation was signed was President last Feb. 21 and released by Malacanang yesterday.
Taal Volcano’s unrest continues after it emitted “moderate” steam rising up to 300 meters high between Wednesday night and yesterday morning, the State volcanology agency said. (Genalyn Kabiling and Alexandria San Juan)
“In the past 24 hours, activity in the main crater was characterized by moderate emission of steam-laden plumes that rose 300 meters high before drifting southwest between 9 p.m. yesterday and 3 a.m. Thursday,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.
According to Phivolcs, “intermittent weak steaming activity” occurred in Taal’s main crater throughout the rest of the observation period.
Phivolcs added that a total of 34 volcanic quakes associated with rock fracturing processes beneath and around the edifice were recorded by the Taal Volcano Network within the volcano island.