Duterte trying to 'lighten the mood' with remark on putting cap over Taal crater — Palace
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte was just trying to lighten the mood when he joked about putting a cap on the crater of the restive Taal Volcano, Malacañang said on Monday, after critics chided him for what they described as an insensitive remark.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the joke reflected Duterte's style and that the administration cannot control the reactions of critics who are against it.
"If that's what they want to think of, we can't do anything. But the president, of course, was trying to lighten the mood because we already have a pandemic and then there's the Taal Volcano eruption," Roque said at a press briefing.
"So, that’s the president’s style. If you think about it negatively, from the start, that's how you think. Go on, anyway, the term of the president is about to end. If that makes you happy, then let them be," he added.
Last Thursday, Duterte said he would put a cap on Taal Volcano's crater after he was asked to react to the raising of the volcano's alert level status. The president also said the activity of the volcano was not yet a grave concern but the government was ready to distribute aid in case the situation gets worse.
Critics have scored Duterte's remark, saying the president should not crack such a joke while people in areas near the volcano are worrying about their safety. Others claimed that the President's joke reflected the incompetence of the government.
Last November, Duterte drew flak for saying that one of his acquaintances had died because he "lacked women." The president made the remark while presiding over a meeting on the effects of typhoon "Ulysses" in Camarines Sur.
Roque had said the public should not give too much meaning to Duterte's jokes.
"Here in the Philippines, let’s take a joke for what it is—a joke," Roque said at a press briefing last Nov. 26, 2020.
"You know, let’s not give too much meaning to the jokes of the President. The President is just like that and he can no longer change because he's already in his seventies. But there is no malice in his jokes and he stands by his track record especially when he was mayor of Davao City for almost 30 years," he added.
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Get updates as Phivolcs issues warnings over activity in Taal Volcano. (Main photo by Philstar.com/Rosette Adel)
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issues a notice reporting an increased and continuous degassing activity from Taal Volcano.
In its 6 p.m. advisory, Phivolcs says the sulfur dioxide emission from the main crater reached 9762 tonnes per day. This was the higher recorded this year.
Phivolcs adds that there was no smog or vog observed. — Rosette Adel
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology says Taal Volcano is still under Alert Level 1.
In an update on Wednesday, its says that the daily sulfur dioxide emissions (SO2) reached 2887 tonnes / day (06 October 2023).
Phivolcs also observes upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Main Crater Lake. — Rosette Adel
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reports that Taal Volcano's daily sulfur dioxide emissions (SO2) reached 2887 tonnes.
It observes upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Main Crater Lake as well as volcanic smog or vog.
The volcano's emissions are also 2400 meters tall. — Rosette Adel
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology releases time-lapse snapshots of degassing activity from the Taal Main Crater and volcanic smog or vog formation on Sunday.
These were taken from 5:45 a.m. to 11:42 a.m. by the Mt. Macolot, Cuenca, Batangas station (VTCU) IP Camera.
LOOK: Time-lapse snapshots of degassing activity from the Taal Main Crater and volcanic smog or vog formation taken from 05:45 AM to 11:42 AM today, 8 October 2023 by the Mt. Macolot, Cuenca, Batangas station (VTCU) IP Camera. pic.twitter.com/jp48R1IZQy
— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) October 8, 2023
— Rosette Adel
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology records daily sulfur dioxide emissions that reached 2730 tonnes / day (22 September 2023).
It also observes upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Main Crater Lake and observed VOG.
Phivolcs adds that there is a ong-term deflation of the Taal Caldera; short-term inflation of the northern flanks of the Taal Volcano Island.
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