The Batangas Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) together with Philippine National Police Provincial Office (PNPPO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and local disaster units held an emergency meeting at the Provincial Capitol to draw out plans for the immediate response and disaster management to affected towns around Taal Volcano as it shows signs of possible eruption.

Since last week of April, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded abnormal changes in the volcano’s condition as well as water in lake that surrounds it.

The Phivolcs placed the alert status to alert level 2, resulting to evacuation of residents in some areas particularly, those living in the volcano island.

PDCC Search and Rescue team composed of provincial administrator Vic Reyes, PNPPO director SSupt. Alberto Supapo, provincial security chief Venus De Castro and PIO chief Ginette Segismundo, trekked the tremulous volcano to personally assess the situation in the area and supervised the relocation of some 6,000 residents as Phivolcs placed alert status to alert level 2.

Capitol’s Disaster Operating Center is also closely monitoring the situation round-the-clock and fixes its attention primarily in the nine towns around Taal Lake, as ordered by Gov. Vilma Santos – Recto.

Fish diversity that usually subsists in lake deep was seen along the coast indication of high water temperature, San Nicolas barangay official said. (BFP)