CLASSES in all levels in both public and private schools were suspended for Monday in all Metro Manila cities and towns and a large part of southern and even central Luzon due to the activities of Taal Volcano.
Chairman Danilo Lim of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and concurrent chief of the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Monitoring Center (MMDRRMC) called for an emergency meeting with the Metro Manila disaster response cluster and LDRRMO’s on Monday (Jan. 13) to conduct a pre-disaster risk assessment and discuss the possible effects of the current Taal volcano activity in the metropolis.
Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay said that class suspension was recommended by the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, taking into consideration the possible health hazard posed by ashfall.
Meanwhile, Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro advised his constituents to stay indoors for their own safety.
For his part, Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano said that the impact of Taal’s eruption has already reached the city.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, in his Facebook page encouraged his constituents to stay indoors and wear face masks.
The entire province of Batangas, Cavite, Rizal, two Laguna towns (Binan and Sta. Rosa), and Pampanga and Bulacan also declared class suspensions after ashfall blanketed their areas.
Parts of Bataan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Eastern Pangasinan and southeastern Zambales were also reached by ashfall.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Sunday raised the alert level of Taal Volcano to Alert Level 4 (hazardous eruption imminent) as it continues with its volcanic activity.
“With the hazards brought by the ashfall in Metro Manila, everyone is encouraged to exercise precaution to avoid experiencing health problems,” he reminded the public.