INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
LUCENA CITY — Due to Taal Volcano’s continuous emission of volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas, in-person classes in public and private schools in the town of Tuy in Batangas province will still be suspended on Monday, October 2, to ensure the safety of students and teachers.
Mayor Jose Jecerell Cerrado issued Executive Order (EO) 2013-013 on September 29, directing “the extension of modular/online distance learning in all elementary, junior and senior high school (public and private) until October 2, 2023 due to volcanic vog/smog.”
“Moreover, the public is still hereby ordered to observe health protocol specifically wearing face masks in public places,” the mayor stressed. A copy of Cerrado’s EO was posted on the Facebook page of the local government.
School classes in Tuy have been holding distance mode of learning since September 25.
READ: Smog from Taal: 58 Batangas students suffer illness
However, the towns of Agoncillo, Talisay, Laurel, Sta. Teresita, San Nicolas, Alitagtag, Cuenca, Balete, and Mataasnakahoy, and the cities of Tanauan and Lipa, surrounding the Taal Volcano have yet to declare the mode of school classes in their respective localities on Monday.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that volcanic smog has been affecting the Taal region since last month.
READ: DOH: 691 reported health issues due Taal vog
Vog consists of fine droplets containing acidic volcanic gas that could cause irritation to the eyes and throat and be harmful to people with respiratory illnesses.
Health authorities in all the localities surrounding the volcano reminded their residents to wear face masks, preferably N-95, when going out of the house for protection against SO2 plumes from the volcano.
READ: It’s smog, not vog, in Metro Manila —but put masks back on