Residents from Agoncillo and Laurel towns will have to endure longer as the two towns remain to be under danger zone areas even if the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has already downgraded the alert level status of Taal volcano from 4 to 3.
On Sunday, the Batangas government allowed residents of 12 towns and cities to return to their homes except in Agoncillo and Laurel.
RELATED STORY: Taal residents begin to return home following Phivolcs alert level downgrade
Phivolcs reduced the danger-zone area to a seven-kilometer radius, which covers Agoncillo and Laurel and some parts of Tanauan City.
Authorities gave Agoncillo town residents four ‘window hours’ to check on their houses. Laurel residents got seven hours.
Phivolcs said it is up to the local government units on how they plan to order residents’ return to their homes.
State volcanologists also advise local officials to assess damage on their respective areas.
READ ON: Phivolcs downgrades alert on Taal volcano to level 3
