Twelve municipalities and cities in Batangas were placed on Tuesday under an “impending state of calamity" due to the Taal Volcano’s continued heightened activity. The Batangas provincial government has declared an “impending state of calamity" in the following areas around the Taal Volcano, a GMA News report said:
- Laurel
- Talisay
- Tanauan
- Balete
- Mataas na Kahoy
- Alitagtag
- Sta. Teresita
- San Nicolas
- Cuenca
- Lipa
- Agoncillo
- Lemery
Batangas vice-governor Mark Leviste said local government units in these areas can already release funds for the needs of the evacuees following the declaration. “Most, if not all the local government units, will be utilizing their calamity funds to support the evacuees because we are encouraging our people to evacuate already," Leviste said in the same television report. Five local officials from Batangas have earlier sought the
declaration of a state of calamity on areas near the volcano to allow their governments to have more access to calamity funds. Alert Level 2 remains hoisted over Taal Volcano due to heightened activity around the area, which “could eventually lead to an eruption." Forced evacuation has yet to be enforced around the area, although the provincial disaster coordinating council has already advised residents living near the volcano to leave their homes due to the
possibility of an eruption. According to latest data from the National Disaster Coordinating Council, a total of 150 families or 697 persons residing near the volcano have already voluntarily evacuated. Classes have already been suspended in schools on Taal Island and those whose classrooms are being used as evacuation centers, affecting about 300 pupils.
- Andreo C. Calonzo/ RJAB Jr./JV, GMANews.TV 
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