377 barangays in Region-7 up for geohazard mapping

CEBU, Philippines - About 377 barangays covering 17 cities and municipalities in Central Visayas are up for a detailed geohazard assessment and mapping in a zoom-in scale of 1:10,000 this year.

In Cebu, 221 barangays are due for mapping to include Lapu-Lapu city with 30 barangays, 42 and 27 for Danao and Mandaue cities, respectively.

The list also identifies Compostela, 17; Liloan, 14; Consolacion, 21; Cordova, 13; Barili, 42; and Carcar city with 15 barangays.

In Siquijor, 41 barangays will be assessed covering Larena with 23 barangays and 18 in Lazi. In Bohol, 24 barangays in Loay and 28 barangays in Loboc are also due for mapping.

Included in the roster of priority barangays are 63 in Negros Oriental to include Amlan, 8; Bacong 22; Zamboanguita and Dauin, with10 and 23, respectively.

Loreto B. Alburo, regional director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 said that the main objective of the assessment is to identify areas which are susceptible or vulnerable to various geologic hazards, or geohazards.

Alburo, in a statement, said that the 377 barangays are prioritized based on the results of the 1:50,000-scale which indicates a number of barangays which are either critical or has very high vulnerability to geological hazards such as flooding and landslides.

This assessment has an allocation of P2.65 million.

Alburo said that this program also seeks to provide information to various stakeholders in order to lessen or mitigate the impact of these events given the adverse and extreme weather patterns or conditions.

The 1:10,000-scale will show more details of the area covered by the map which may include the specific physical characteristics or environment of each sitio or “purok” in a barangay.

Among the important information that can be revealed in a 1:10,000-scale geohazard map are parameters or features in the area that may affect ground stability and the type of landslides or flooding that can possibly occur in the area.

Alburo said a team of geologists will again issue suitable warnings and geohazard advisories to be stamped and received by the Office of the Mayor and barangay captain.

Alburo further said that the results will provide them the opportunity to initiate mitigating measures and interventions in disaster risk reduction and management. (FREEMAN)