Batangas governor urges staying in evac centers despite alert level drop

Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas urged residents outside Taal Volcano's seven-kilometer danger zone to stay in evacuation centers despite Phivolcs lowering the alert level to three.

Mandanas stated that health, property, and livelihood risks remained high even at Alert Level 3.

Almost 40,000 families were still staying in evacuation centers as of Tuesday.

On Sunday, some Batangueño evacuees returned home after Phivolcs downgraded the alert level from four to three.

Batangas lifted lockdowns for 12 cities and municipalities outside the danger zone but allowed residents within the seven-kilometer radius to stay in evacuation centers.

Agoncillo Mayor Daniel Reyes reported that while some residents started cleaning their homes, many chose to remain in evacuation centers due to damaged properties.