Batangas residents still dealing with effects of Taal eruption

Though life has somewhat returned to normal in Batangas a year after the January 12 eruption of Taal Volcano, some residents said they still had not fully recovered from the calamity.

In Chino Gaston’s Tuesday report on “24 Oras,” a resident of the previously ash-covered Barangay Banyaga in Agoncillo, one of the areas hit hardest by the eruption, said his family has been slowly rebuilding.

“Awa naman ng Diyos, nakaka-recover naman kahit hindi ganoon kabilis nga, ika-nga. Eh, at least pinipilit naming ibalik kung ano man ‘yung meron kami dati,” Bernard Alilio said.

Though they have resumed their fish farming business at the lake, another family member said their circumstances have not returned to normal.

“Hindi pa rin masyado. Pero nakakaraos naman kahit papaano,” Alvin said.

Meanwhile, Mitring Encarnacion’s house in Agoncillo was still submerged in water as the land in the area had permanently sunk. The ground floors of other houses in the area were all underwater.

“Kung sakali ho na magkakaroon ng pagkakataaon na magkakaroon ng kaonting pera, puwede ho kaming magpagawa ng kaonting dini na, magfla-flat kami diyan sa bundok para ho doon kami makapag tayo,” Encarnacion said.

Batangas recovers

Though residents are still feeling the effects of the eruption, some houses in Batangas that were previously covered in ash or had collapsed under the weight of the ashfall had been fixed.

The fish farming activities in the lake — which previously suffered due to the fish kill caused by the eruption — had also recovered.

However, residents are still prohibited from living on Taal Island. The island was declared a “no man’s land” and is included in the permanent danger zone.

A video that was taken by residents during the lockdown, meanwhile, showed a pool of water inside the crater. The video showed the water smoking as heat still emanated from below

Meanwhile, locals living around Taal Volcano were still being provided with disaster recovery assistance, such as boats that were recently given to selected fishermen in Laurel.

Town Mayor Joan Amo said they still needed help to recover from the series of hardships they experienced in 2020.

“January ay pumutok ang bulkan. Pebrero ho ay babago pa lamang kaming bumabalik, nagkameron kami ng ASF. Kami ho sa kauna-unahan sa lalawagin ng Batangas ay nagka-meron,” Amo said.

“Pagkatapos ay Marso, nagkameron po kami ng, na-lockdown dahil sa COVID. Abril ay nag-fishkill, another wave ng ASF, flash flood at kung ano-ano pa. So napakarami ho talaga ng pinag daanan,” she added. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News