VOG or volcanic smog from Taal Volcano on Monday forced the suspension of classes in 41 local government units (LGUs) in three provinces and the National Capital Region (NCR).
The Department of Education (DepEd) said 25 LGUs were in Batangas, 11 in Cavite, three in Laguna, and the cities of Muntinlupa and Las Piñas in Metro Manila.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the vog formed because there were no strong winds to dissipate the sulfur dioxide (SO2) emitted by the volcano.
NOT VOG? A thick haze blankets parts of Pasay City on Aug. 19, 2024. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the haze was not caused by volcanic fog or vog because Taal Volcano has not spewed ash. PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA
Phivolcs issued no imminent threat of eruption from Taal, which is on Alert Level 1, but advised the wearing of face masks among students and elders.
Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said that on August 15, “we measured only 3,355 tons per day of sulfur dioxide, which is not highly significant. However, we still observed vog in the Batangas area due to the slow wind speed, which prevented the SO2 from dissipating quickly.”
He said the vog observed in Metro Manila might actually be smog or the haze caused by pollutants.
The DepEd said classes were called off in the following places: Balete, Balayan, Malvar, Laurel, San Jose, Mataas na Kahoy, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Nasugbu, Lemery, Lian, Talisay, San Luis, Alitagtag, City of Calaca, San Pascual, Calatagan, Tuy, Cuenca, Sta. Teresita, Bauan, San Juan, Taal, Padre Garcia, and Ibaan in Batangas; Silang, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, GMA, Carmona, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Amadeo, Maragondon, Naic, and Carmona in Cavite; and Calamba, Biñan and Los Baños in Laguna.
The department ordered the schools in the affected areas to switch to modular or online learning.
It added that lifting the suspension “will depend on whether it is safe for learners and teachers to return.”
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the vog was first reported by the Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office at about 7 p.m. Sunday.
WITH DENNIS ABRINA
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