Palace agrees Taal Volcano Island should be declared ‘no man’s land’

CONSTANT ALERT LEVEL Taal Volcano’s lethal history has not stopped migrants from other provinces from settling on the fringes of the island. —PHIVOLCS PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang agreed Wednesday that the entire island where Taal Volcano is located should be declared a “no man’s land” to ensure the safety of the people, especially residents, tourists and tourist guides who are bringing visitors in the island.

“Matagal nang no man’s island talaga dapat ‘yun dahil talagang delikado doon,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer.

(It should have been declared a no man’s island because it’s really dangerous there.)

“Matigas lang ang ulo ng mga kababayan natin eh, dahil gusto din nilang maghanap buhay saka may mga turista doon. Pero ang katotohanan niyan talagang delikado doon,” he added.

(But our people are really stubborn because they want to make a living in that area and there are tourists going there. But the reality is that it’s dangerous there.)

In a situation briefing on Taal Volcano’s eruption on Tuesday evening, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzan revealed that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendation to bar people from living in the island.

Panelo said people were able to sneak into the island volcano due to lack of “perimeter wall” and the lack of knowledge how dangerous the area is.

“Ever since talagang danger zone ‘yun kaya lang wala talagang perimeter wall doon kaya talagang walang nangyayari,” Panelo said

(Ever since it has been a danger zone but there is no perimeter wall to keep people out.)

“Dapat talaga ma-educate natin ang mga kababayan natin na delikado doon…for their own safety ‘yun.”

(What we really should do is to educate our people about the dangers of going there…for their own safety.)

The Palace official also stressed that the prohibition should be enforced even as it affects tourism in the province of Batangas.

“Hindi naman tayo mamamatay kung walang turismo doon. Ang mamamatay ‘yung mga tao sa paligid kapag nagkaroon ng putukan…what is important is the safety of the people living in the vicinity,” he said.

(We will not perish even without tourism there. Who will perish are those people in the danger zone when the volcano erupts.)

Taal attracts local and foreign tourists daily due to its crisp, cool climate and breathtaking view of nature especially the volcano nestled in a lake. Taal Volcano is currently on Alert Level 4 for the fourth day now, which means that a violent eruption may happen within hours or days.

More than 30,000 locals from Batangas and Cavite have been evacuated after the volcano, the second most active in the country, spewed a huge column of ash in the atmosphere on Sunday afternoon.

Most of the evacuees came from Talisay and San Nicolas in Batangas, which has been places under state of calamity following the volcano’s continued unrest.

Edited by JPV