DILG allows some areas in Tagaytay to allow business firms to resume

January 20, 2020

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday clarified that areas not within the 14-km high risk danger zone from Taal Volcano can allow business firms to continue operating.

In a statement, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said only eight barangays in Tagaytay City were listed by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) as susceptible to base surge and volcanic tsunami.

A mandatory evacuation order was released for those areas that are within the 14-kilometer dangerzone.

"Let me clarify that it’s not the entire Tagaytay City but only eight of its barangays that was included by Phivolcs as within the danger zone, so business establishments may continue operating in other areas of the city," Malaya said.

The eight barangays from Tagaytay are Bagong Tubig, Kaybagal South (Pob)., Maharlika West, Sambong, San Jose, Silang Junction South, Maharlika East, and Tolentino East.

He said they requested a clarification from Phivolcs amidst differing claims from LGU officials.

"We are not the scientific experts here, it’s the DOST (Department of Science and Technology). So, until and unless Phivolcs removes these eight barangays from the list of susceptible barangays, the DILG has no choice but to insist that mandatory evacuation should be implemented immediately," he added.

Malaya said based on latest reports from their DILG field offices, only Bagong Tubig and Sambong has been evacuated.

The other barangays only implemented voluntary evacuation.

The DILG made the clarification after some areas in Tagaytay City, especially those who are mostly popular tourist areas, have allowed business firms to resume operations.

In a press conference earlier, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said those areas, especially where the Sky Ranch is located is safe from the base surge.

“( They are) Above the area safe from base surge but they are affected by ashfall,” Jalad said.

Minutes after the press conference, DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing said commercial establishments in Tagaytay should remain closed because the city may experience ashfall if the volcano erupts.

However, local authorities in Tagaytay City said they will just take the statement as recommendations and business firms in the city will continue operating. Ella Dionisio/DMS