Volcanic Triple Threat: Is the Philippines Ready?

By: Gabby

Published: June 23, 2023

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CAINTA, Philippines – Three major volcanoes in the Philippines are on watch by PHIVOLCS as they experience unrest. 

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) is keeping updates with three volcanoes being the Taal Volcano, Kanlaon Volcano and most crucial the Mayon Volcano. 

The Taal and Kanlaon Volcanoes, located in Batangas and Negros Island respectively, are both on Alert Level 1 as of June 19, 2023. This is considered low-level unrest. PHIVOLCS reminded that entrance within close radius is prohibited. This however, is considerably milder as compared to the developments of the Mayon Volcano. 

As of June 19, 2023, the Mayon Volcano, located in the Province of Albay, is placed on Alert Level 3. According to the PHIVOLCS Report, the volcano emitted 889 tonnes per day with plumes measuring 600 meters tall. 

PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol told Teleradyo,

“Based on our previous experiences, this activity may persist for a few months. Kapag naman violent yung eruption niya, this will probably just take a few days to weeks. Pero kapag ganitong mabagal, it will probably take several months,”. 

The State of Philippines Risk Reduction and Management 

With the onset of three active volcanoes, disaster preparedness and risk management becomes a crucial factor in the outcome of these events. 

Republic Act 10121 intitated the creation of the National Disaster Risk Management Framework. This included a

“master plan that will provide the strategies, organisation, tasks of concerned agencies and local government units, and other guidelines in dealing with disasters or emergencies”. It activated the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to spearhead disaster response. 

In 2022, the Philippines ranked first in the World Risk Index which ranks countries based on its proneness to disasters. This covered environmental risks such as earthquakes, typhoons, and floods. 

To understand risk, there is the risk equation – Risk = Hazard x Vulnerability / Capacity.  Risk involves not only the natural hazard of the environment, but social factors as well such as poverty, infrastructure, and disaster risk education. 

The Philippines ranked as No. 1 means that risk to disasters in the country is high. Natural hazards are not addressed with utmost capacity due to other factors that inhibit a well-functioning disaster response. 

Guillermo M. Luz, chief resilience officer of the Philippine Disaster Reslience Foundation, said that disaster preparedness must be a “long-term, sustainable plan”. “Clearly, we have a lot of work to do. We cannot control natural events, but we can focus on areas of susceptibility, coping, and adaptation,” he said. 

While the Philippines has a disaster plan and committee, there are many facets to reducing the risk to a disaster. There is more that meets the eye in reducing the vulnerability of the country to natural hazards that persist. 

The unrest of the three volcanoes poses a high risk to a disaster the Philippines might face. The response action is what will determine the safety and protection of Filipinos.