DILG Ordered FORCED Evacuation In 12 Towns In Batangas
FORCED EVACUATION IN 12 TOWNS – Residents of 12 municipalities in Batangas were ordered to execute a forced evacuation due to a potential cataclysmic eruption of Taal Volcano.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered local government units (LGUs) to initiate a mandatory evacuation of residents in areas likely to be hit by deadly projectiles.
Authorities fear that the eruption might cause base surges and a volcanic tsunami caused by the eruption of Taal Volcano. Based on a report by Philstar, the memorandum was signed by DILG regional officer-in-charge Abigail Andres.
In the memorandum, the following towns were ordered to undergo forced evacuations:
- Agoncillo
- Alitagtag
- Balete
- Cuenca
- Laurel
- Lemery
- Malvar
- Mataas na Kahoy
- San Nicolas
- Sta. Teresita
- Taal and Talisay
- The cities of Lipa and Tanauan.
As per the article, 4 of the 12 towns are now executing a total lockdown. This was confirmed by S/Sgt. Armstrong de Castro of the Regional Incident Management Team.
The population of the towns combined almost accounts for 200,000 residents. In Addition, Batangas police Provincial Director Edwin Quilates stated that the lockdown was implemented to prevent people from getting into danger zones.
Following Taal’s spewing of Ash and smoke, the number of evacuees in evacuation centers went up to almost 44,000. There is still a continuing increase in the number of evacuees since Sunday.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), there were 217 different evacuations centers in cities and municipalities located in Cavite, Batangas, and Laguna.
In lieu of this, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año stated that the 14-kilometer danger zone is strictly off-limits as Taal Volcano remains under alert level 4.
It is simply too dangerous for anyone to go back to the island. Human lives must be our first priority
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