Marcos says gov't monitoring situation in Taal Volcano

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Thursday assured the public that the government is monitoring the situation in Taal Volcano following its eruption on Wednesday.

''Well, we… Okay, let me do this here. We have SOPs in place. We have standard procedures. Everybody when the volcano erupts or the storm comes or magkalindol [earthquake occurs] or whatever, they know what to do,'' Marcos told Palace reporters.

''What we have to do is to monitor the situation and continue to see where are the areas --- kasi [because] not every situation is the same. So how do we adjust? Where are the areas that need special attention, where are the areas that are okay,'' he added.

The Taal Volcano erupted on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

However, Alert Level 1 remains hoisted over the volcano, the state seismologist added.

Marcos is confident that the PHIVOLCS would move people out of the danger area when needed.

The eruption is said to be phreatomagmatic, which is a very explosive eruption caused by the contact of magma with water. The eruption also produced a “short black jetted plume followed by a steam-rich plume that rose up to 2,400 meters.”

Under Alert Level 1, sudden phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas pose a threat within the Taal Volcano Island.

Entry into the Taal Volcano Island and the permanent danger zone is prohibited and the vicinity of the volcano is a no-fly zone.

Taal Volcano last erupted in July 2021 and was placed under Alert Level 3. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News