MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday defended the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) amid calls for an investigation for its alleged late public alert regarding the eruption of Taal Volcano on Sunday.
At a press briefing, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Palace is satisfied with the performance of Phivolcs, and lauded its officer-in-charge, DOST Usec. Renato Solidum for having explained “really well” the situation.
“As if you can predict volcano eruption,” Panelo said, in explaining the alleged late alerts to locals living near the volcano.
Nonetheless, Panelo said that the House of Representative is free to conduct an investigation on the agency, if it so desires. It was Cavite 4th District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, Jr. who earlier called on the lower chamber to probe the supposed lack of government alerts on the eruption of Taal Volcano.
“It’s the prerogative and privilege of the legislature to call for a hearing in aid of legislation,” said Panelo.
Taal volcano, the second-most-active in the Philippines, spewed giant ash column Sunday afternoon that sends a blanket of ash to areas in Southern Luzon, Metro Manila, and Central Luzon.
Sitting in the province of Batangas, Taal volcano is currently under Alert Level 4, which means that a violent eruption may happen within hours or days.
Batangas and Cavite are already placed under a state of calamity as ash and magma continue to gush from the volcano.