MAYOR Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has instructed Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario, as head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), to assess whatever assistance the Zamboanga City Government can give to families displaced by the ash fall resulting from Taal volcanic activity in Batangas.

Salazar said Apolinario, who is currently taking his masters at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in Manila, will form part of a team that AIM will deploy to Batangas to assess the situation in areas affected by the ash fall.

The mayor appealed to the Zamboangueños to pray for the ash fall victims from the areas surrounding the active Taal Volcano.

Reports have it that Taal Volcano began spewing lava and authorities warned that eruptions could last months.

As the Taal Volcano began to spew ash and smoke on Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised its status to an Alert Level 4, indicating a hazardous eruption is possible within hours to days.

The alert system has five levels with Alert Level 5, meaning a hazardous eruption is in progress. (SunStar Zamboanga)