Iloilo and other areas in Western Visayas is not affected by ashfall from Taal Volcano in Batangas, according to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-6).
Engineer Ronald Limua, officer-in-charge (OIC) of the EMB’s Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Division, said the entire region is volcanic ash-free.
The ashfall, according to Limua, is unlikely to affect the region because of the southwest monsoon or habagat. The southwest winds come from high-pressure areas in Australia that goes to low-pressure areas in China and Siberia.
The EMB-6 said the quality of air in Iloilo and the rest of the region, based on data from its monitoring stations, remained at safe levels.
Taal volcano, the second most active volcano in the country, erupted yesterday, Jan 12.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), Taal blasted steam, ash, and pebbles up to 9 miles or 15 kilometers into the sky.
Aside from Batangas, the eruption also affected parts of Tagaytay, Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan, Rizal, Las Piñas, Marikina, Parañaque, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Makati City, and Taguig City.IMT
