UPDATED: Laguna on Alert as Smoke Seen in Area Around Mount Makiling

UPDATE: Phivolcs has released a statement saying Mt. Makiling is NOT an active volcano, and that the "steaming" observed in the area is from hot springs.

(Original story follows)

Officials of Los Baños, Laguna are on alert after smoke was reportedly seen in the area around Mount Makiling on Thursday (February 11). 

A Facebook post by the municipal government of Los Baños—a town about 60 kilometers south of Metro Manila—said Mayor Tony Kalaw visited Lakewood Subdivision in Barangay Tadlac after residents reported smoke coming out of the ground. The subdivision is located in the foothills of Mount Makiling.

Officials convened the Barangay Council (Sangguniang Barangay) and representatives of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resource Office (PENRO), DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and Lakewood Subdivision Homeowners Association to discuss next steps.

The local government of Los Baños has also reached out to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to investigate the situation.

Contrary to popular belief, Mount Makiling is not a mountain but is actually a dormant volcano. According to Phivolcs, the volcano has no history of recorded eruptions, although there are traces of volcanic activity, including the presence of hot springs in the area. Makiling is currently classified as “potentially active” by Phivolcs.