DILG: Businesses Outside 14-Kilometer Danger Zone May Reopen

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DILG: Businesses Outside 14-Kilometer Danger Zone May Reopen

DILG – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) clarified that businesses outside the Tagaytay danger zone may reopen.

DILG
EVACUEES’ PLIGHT Maricel Capagalan watches her daughter and the children of other evacuees while resting on a mat with her husband inside a classroom at Bauan Technical High School in Bauan town, Batangas province. —LYN RILLON | Image from: Inquirer

The department elaborated that only eight barangays in the city of Tagaytay are covered by its evacuation, adding that others may resume operations.

Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya announced that the said eight barangays are Bagong Tubig, Kaybagal South (Pob), Maharlika West, Sambong, San Jose, Silang Junction South, Maharlika East, and Tolentino East.

According to GMA News, Malaya reported that the said barangays were susceptible to base surge and volcanic tsunami.

“Let me clarify that it’s not the entire Tagaytay City; but only eight of its barangays were included by PHIVOLCS as within the danger zone, so business establishments may reopen in other areas of the city,”

The announcement came after Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said that businesses within 14-kilometer danger zone around Taal Volcano are currently banned.

“I’m very sure that we released a memo to the city mayor of Tagaytay that no commercial establishment shall continue to operate until and unless this issue of Alert Level 4 has been downgraded,”

Dansing earlier added that authorities would look into reports that some establishments, which includes amusement park SkyRanch, resumed operations.

As per the report, Malaya said that in the eight barangays, for those in the higher portion of the ridge may be allowed to reopen subject to the judgment of the local chief executive.

“Secretary [Eduardo] Año has decided that those located in the higher portion of the ridge which based on the PHIVOLCS hazard map have low risk may be allowed to reopen by the local government unit. So, it’s subject to the discretion of the Mayor and she will be totally responsible,”

Malaya added that the Tagaytay City local government should review the hazard maps from Phivolcs so that it will be appropriately guided in determining which areas in the eight barangays are safe for businesses to reopen.

“We are not the scientific experts here, it’s the DOST (Department of Science and Technology). We have requested the PHIVOLCS to issue the necessary written guidance to DILG on this matter,”

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