BATANGAS, Philippines – It has been 5 years since the last eruption of Taal volcano that resulted in 39 deaths, affected thousands of residents and left billions worth of damages in the province of Batangas.
“No response. January 12, 2020, memorable day indeed. God bless us”, said Governor Hermilando Mandanas who has since been calling for the revision of the ENIPAS Act that limits the authority of the local government to act within the vicinity of Taal volcano.
Passed in 2018, Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act identified 94 protected areas as national parks, placing them under the control and supervision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Among the 94 areas is the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL), which covers an area of 62,292.16 hectares, equivalent to 20% of the entire Batangas province land area.
“Noong pumutok ang bulkan, maraming kalye ang nasira, hindi kami puwedeng mag-repair hangga’t wala silang permit. Sinisingil pa kami. Magpapagawa kami ng school, patubig — we are doing public service, why do we need to pay?,” he lamented. (When the volcano erupted, many roads were destroyed — we couldn’t repair without a permit. They were asking for a fee. We’re fixing schools, and water utilities — why do we need to pay?)
Mandanas says while the collection is stipulated in the regulation, that can easily be amended. Just as the law can be amended to allow for better management of concerns in the surrounding area.
“My request which I have conveyed before, the law is good, but the area covered, they can’t do it. It should be done by the local. All you have to do is to reduce the area that they can really manage and control,” he added.
He says that while the province has the resources to address the needs of the affected areas, they are constrained by law in responding to the areas within the TVPL.
During the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Kristine last October 2024, Mandanas publicly criticized the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for failing to dredge the Pansipit River since the volcano erupted in 2020 — a situation he says significantly contributed to the severe flooding especially in the towns of Lemery, Agoncillo and Taal.
The province of Batangas recorded the highest number of deaths at 61, mostly because of landslides and drowning.
In a recent letter to President Bongbong Marcos, Mandanas said:
“We have been constantly reminding DENR through PAMB (Protected Area Management Board), by means of formal letters and verbal comments during Board Meetings, of their responsibility to address the needs of the people, especially during the onslaught of calamities.
However, up to date, we have no reports of DENR or the PAMB acting on their responsibility and duties towards those affected by STS Kristine. Now that the people of Batangas need assistance, it seems to be a repetition of their inaction during the Taal Volcano eruption.”
“Hindi tulong ang hinihingi namin, ang hinihingi namin for national government to take the responsibility because they’ve taken the power. Inalis nila ‘yon sa lalawigan ng Batangas. Kinuha nila ang karapatang mag-manage ng 20% of the province. You’ve taken the duty, you’ve taken the power, you have to take the responsibility,” he ended. (We’re not asking for aid — we’re asking for the national government to take responsibility because they’ve taken power. They took that away from Batangas. They took the right to manage 20% of the province.)
Various attempts have been made to reach out to PAMB chair and DENR 4A Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria to get his reply, but his office says they are awaiting clearance from the DENR secretary to respond to questions related to this matter. – Rappler.com