[26 March 2022] As of 8:00 a.m. Philippine Standard Time, PLDT and Smart have activated their quick response teams after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised Alert Level 3 over Taal Volcano. 

The PLDT group has prepositioned network equipment and personnel in strategic areas ready to respond and aid communities that will be affected. The local government unit of Laurel, Batangas has evacuated residents in Barangays Gulod, Buso-Buso and in the eastern portion of Bugaan East. 

PHIVOLCS earlier reported the Taal Volcano Main Crater generated a short-lived phreatomagmatic burst followed by nearly continuous phreatomagmatic activity that generated plumes 1,500 meters into the atmosphere, accompanied by volcanic earthquake and infrasound signals. 

PLDT and Smart are currently monitoring the situation. The group urges everyone to take necessary precautions and heed the alerts and warnings of local governments and disaster response authorities.   

All these efforts are part of PLDT and Smart’s #SafeandSmart advocacy, which promotes preparedness and immediate response through network resilience, continuous availability of communication services, mobile solutions and activities, and relief assistance to help communities mitigate disaster risks.