BATANGAS CITY, Philippines – Taal volcano is considered as smallest of its kind in the world but in the real sense it could be one the strongest so it baffles the mind why people settled or put up their homes on the island volcano.

Plans are now afoot for the government to declare it a “no man’s land.”

In a situation briefing shortly after President Duterte personally checked on the situation of the volatile Taal volcano and on thousands of evacuees, the Chief Executive himself is convinced and will soon officially announce Taal Volcano Island a “no man’s land.”

This was confirmed Tuesday evening in this city by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana saying President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendation to bar people from living on the island.

 “You (Duterte) have approved a recommendation a while ago, I believe that we should, I strongly believe, recommend that we strictly implement the suggestion or the recommendation that Taal Island will be declared no man’s land,” Lorenzana said.

“Pagka babalik yung tao dun, (When people return there and) if there will be another explosion or violent, I think all people will perish on the island.”

Warning at the volatile Taal volcano is still up at Alert Level 4 for the third day now and officials are still expecting a violent eruption may occur soon may happen within hours or days.

Officials manning evacuation operations reported that more than 30,000 locals from Batangas and Cavite have already been evacuated following Taal’s unrest.

Most of them came from Talisay and San Nicolas in the province of Batangas, which has been placed under a state of calamity following the volcano’s activity. (IAMIGO/Currentph.com)