The vice mayor of Talisay town in Batangas plans to ask President Rodrigo Duterte to allow their residents to return home despite the warning from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) that an explosive eruption of Taal Volcano may still be possible.
Talisay Vice Mayor Charlie Natanauan also slammed Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum over their warnings on Taal volcano’s activities.
“Ang plano ko as vice mayor ay ako ay humihingi ng kuwan kay Presidente Duterte na kung maaari ‘yung opinyon ng Phivolcs ay medyo baguhin kasi masyado niyang pinalala ang sitwasyon ng balita,” Natanauan told ABS-CBN News.
The vice mayor also allayed fears that Lava flow could endanger the lives of residents in the so-called danger zones.
“Pagkabagsak ng lava sa tubig, tumitigil siya dahil nababasa. Masyado niyang ano e, sabi niya mas malakas ang puputok na susunod, nag iipon lamang. Opinyon niya ‘yon… Nag-iisa siya sa kaniyang opinyon. Kami buong Batangas ang naapektuhan sa kaniyang sinasabi. Pag-aralan niyang mabuti,” the vice mayor added.
Natanauan also cast doubt on Solidum’s prediction that an eruption may occur due to magma movement.
“Wala pang nakapag predict sa buong mundo kahit scientist sa pagputok ng bulkan. Bakit naman nasabi niya, siya ba ay Diyos?” he said.
The vice mayor said that residents should be allowed to return home because they are losing money due to suspended business operations.
“Pabalikin na kami sana dahil wala naman nakaka-detect ng putok ng bulkan, di na nga nagalaw,” he added.
