CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) — An interagency body was created to standardize class suspension protocols and safety measures in response to Taal Volcano’s seismic activities.
In a meeting held on Tuesday, Dec. 3, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Calabarzon approved a resolution creating a technical working group tasked with developing protocols.
According to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 4A, which chairs the Committee on Disaster Preparedness, the timely suspension of classes is essential to protecting the health and safety of students and school personnel during periods of volcanic unrest.
Office of Civil Defense Calabarzon Director Carlos Alvarez, council chairperson, underscored that the newly created technical working group would facilitate faster and more efficient response efforts.
“This is a timely initiative, especially now that Taal Volcano recently recorded a minor phreatomagmatic eruption, prompting nearby local government units to suspend classes,” he said.
The technical working group will include representatives from government agencies, local government units, academic institutions, and civil society organizations in areas surrounding Taal Volcano.
The formation of this group was driven by recent volcanic activities, such as the emission of volcanic gases and smog, which have posed significant health risks to communities near the volcano.
The interagency body will lead efforts to develop a tiered class suspension system based on the severity of volcanic threats. It will also design and implement effective alert systems to promptly notify schools and communities of any changes in volcanic activity.
Additionally, the group will prepare contingency plans for alternative learning arrangements to ensure uninterrupted education during disruptions caused by volcanic unrest.
The body will also strengthen public information campaigns to raise awareness about volcanic hazards and stress the importance of adhering to safety and class suspension protocols for the protection of affected communities.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded a minor phreatomagmatic eruption in Taal Volcano on Dec. 3. Alert Level 1 remains in effect, indicating low-level unrest. (PIA4A)
