Voters' registration in areas affected by Taal eruption resumes on February 3

HOMECOMING. Residents on motorcycles enter the town of Lemery, Batangas after they were allowed to return to their homes following the Phivolcs lowering of the Taal volcano alert level from 4 to 3 on January 26, 2020. Photo by AFP

MANILA, Philippines – The registration of voters in areas affected by the ongoing eruption of the Taal Volcano will resume on Monday, February 3, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced.

The poll body said it lifted the suspension on voters' registration previously placed in areas in Batangas and Cavite as it noted "a return to normal working conditions."

Among these places were:

Batangas

• Alitagtag
• Balete
• Laurel
• Lemery
• San Nicolas
• Sta. Teresita
• Taal
• Talisay
• Cuenca
• Lipa City
• Tanauan City
• Balayan
• Calaca
• Kalatagan
• Tuy
• San Luis
• Mabini
• Lian
• Malvar

Cavite

• Alfonso
• Indang
• Silang
• Tagaytay City
• Amadeo

Meanwhile, voters' registration in the municipality of Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas, will resume the following week, starting on Monday, February 10.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez earlier said registration in areas in the immediate danger zone and other areas surrounding the Taal Volcano were deferred due to it being placed on Alert Level 4 due to intense seismic activity.

The provinces of Batangas and Cavite were among those most affected by Taal's eruption with both areas' local governments declaring a state of calamity.

As of Thursday, January 30, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology maintained Alert Level 3 for Taal Volcano, noting movement of magma underneath continued.

The new round of voter registration will run until September 30, 2021. – Rappler.com