After the infamous spew of lava and ashes of the Taal Volcano, many residents in neighboring cities, towns, and provinces were alarmed. They knew that the ashes that the volcano has spewed is in no way healthy for the human body.
A lot of issues were born such as the overpricing of medications and face masks, the continuous and rapid rising of the alert levels of the volcano, and many more; but now, issues akin to those are still growing day-by-day.
You can read more about that here: The Department of Health (DOH) Orders the Freezing of Drug Prices in Areas Severely Affected by the Taal Eruption
Because of the never-ending scare of the volcano to the residents surrounding it, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered the mandatory evacuation of 8 Tagaytay Barangays.
Announcement as clarification
It’s a no-brainer that the city of Tagaytay is among the cities that were severely affected but, as the DILG clarified, only eight (8) barangays in the city were the ones they ordered to have a mandatory evacuation.
Jonathan Malaya, DILG Spokesperson and Undersecretary, then clarified the business establishments in some barangays and places in the city can still operate; those that are not under the evacuation order.
Read: Safety Tips to Follow When You’re Stuck on the Road During an Ashfall
The mandatory evacuation of 8 barangays
In case you’re curious to know which barangays these were, the DILG brought about the list of these barangays:
- Bagong Tubig
- Kaybagal (South)
- Maharlika West
- Sambong
- San Jose
- Silang Junction (South)
- Maharlika (East)
- Tolentino (East)
However, field reports coming from the Local Government Units (LGUs) of these barangays are only showing that brgys Bagong Tubig and Sambong are just the ones that have been evacuated; striking up a bigger and a more serious problem than it already is.
Why did these 8 barangays have mandatory evacuation?
As per the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), these eight (8) barangays are the ones that are the most susceptible to the Volcanic Tsumani and the Base Surge that could happen.
They said that the reason why these eight barangays were the ones recommended is because of the issue, not because of the ashfall.
Which is why they were included in the Mandatory Evacuation Order issued by the Department as early as Monday.”
On the other end of the Spectrum, DILG Spokesperson Malaya said that he is clarifying that it’s not the whole of Tagaytay that’s being put under the strict order of the mandatory evacuation; only the 8 that PHIVOLCS included in their reports.
Read: Active Philippine Fault Lines: How do You Know if Your Area is Near a Fault Line?
Let me clarify that its not the entire Tagaytay City but only 8 of its barangays that was included by PHIVOLCS as within the Danger Zone, so business establishments may continue operating in other areas of the city.”
The waiving of the toll fees
In another news we posted, we talked about how the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) aagreed to waive the toll fees of the people who would pass the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) as well as the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) for both private and government vehicles who would bring efforts to support and provide relief goods to the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption.
Read more about that here: Toll Fee Exemption in SLEX For the Taal Eruption Relief Goods, Labor Group
Malaya said that the Philippine government is clearly dependent on what PHIVOLCS have to say about who would be given the mandatory evacuation as they are not experts in the Science field.
Read: PHIVOLCS Will Introduce 4 Disaster Reduction Apps
We are not the scientific experts here, its the DOST. So, until and unless PHIVOLCS removes these 8 barangays from the list of susceptible barangays, the DILG has no choice but to insist that mandatory evacuation should be implemented immediately.”
That’s why the mandatory evacuation of 8 Tagaytay barangays is something they have no decision on; it’s solely based on the decision of PHIVOLCS from the data they’ve gotten after the eruption of the Taal Volcano.
Read: How Cities and Municipalities Should Prepare for an Earthquake
What do you think of the mandatory evacuation of 8 Tagaytay barangays? Is it just right that only eight (8) of them were given the order to be evacuated? Or do you think that it should go as a whole?
Let’s wait for further announcement as regards this issue as we only have limited sources about it. For now, let’s just hope and pray for the best. The donation for relief goods for the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption is still ongoing and if you have anything to donate that you think would ultimately help the victims, do so.
Source/s: The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Website | Manila Bulletin News