Manila, Jan. 13 -- House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez on Monday urged the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to expedite the utilization of its PHP221-million budget to upgrade the country's monitoring and warning program for volcanic eruption, earthquake, and tsunami.
Romualdez said the agency should fast-track the acquisition of the much-needed equipment following complaints from residents of Calabarzon (Region 4-A) on the lack of adequate warnings related to the impact of the phreatic explosion of Taal Volcano on Sunday.
"We do not fault the Philvolcs for the lack of adequate warnings on the impact of the phreatic explosion. We are aware that it is really difficult to predict the occurrence of volcanic er...