As rains continue LGUs advised to refer to geohazard maps

CEBU, Philippines -  The state environment agency has urged local government units to refer to and seriously take into consideration the geohazard map and advisories as rains will continue to be experienced.

“Our mayors and barangay captains should keep track on areas that are found to be highly susceptible to flooding and landslides which have been known to them as indicated in the geohazards threat advisory,” said Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 regional director Loreto Alburo.

Geohazards threat advisories were issued by MGB-7 to the four provincial governors as tropical storm Seniang entered the country.

As light rains continue to be felt according to PAGASA Visayas director Oscar Tabada, all are advised to still be on the lookout especially with the northeast monsoon and the cold front.

Storm surge-prone areas are Arpili, Balamban; Tungkil, Minglanilla; Talisay, Maricaban, and Kinatarcan, all in Santa Fe; Tarong, Mancilang, and Codia, all in Madridejos; Patao and Pitogo in Bantayan; and Tanke in Talisay City.

Also, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 regional director Dr. Isabelo Montejo appealed to the mayors and barangay captains to get hold of the geohazard maps and implement the necessary measures to reduce the impact of landslides and flooding within their areas of responsibility.

In Cebu City, 19 barangays are highly susceptible to landslides, namely, Lusaran, Binaliw, Guba, Budlaan, Malubog, Buot-Taup, Busay, Sirao, Taptap, Tagbao, Tabunan, Pung-ol Sibugay, Sudlon II, Sudlon I, Sinsin, Buhisan, Pamutan, Sapangdaku, and Adlaon.

Also landslide-prone are Barangays Tagjaguimit, Alpaco, Balirong, Mayana, Naalad, and Cogon in City of Naga and 11 barangays in Balamban: Hingatmonan, Lamesa, Luca, Ginatilan, Cabasiangan, Matun-og, Cansomoroy, Gaas, Magsaysay, Cabagdalan, and Duangan.

Included on the list are five barangays in Toledo City: Tungkay, Pangamihan, Bagacay, Loay and Don Andres Soriano; Lamac in Pinamungahan; and five barangays in Asturias: Agbanga, Baye, Bairan, Kanluangan and Sak-sak.

All mountain barangays in Talisay City, particularly Manipis; Barangay Doldol and Purok 3 in Dumanjug; and Cansalonoy in Ronda are also in the list.

In Bohol, portions of those areas which have been affected by the quake are advised to take the necessary precautions and to implement proactive evacuation. These are Tagbilaran City, Baclayon, Corella, Cortes, Alburquerque, Panglao, Dauis, Loon, Calape, Catigbian, Balilihan, Batuan, Sagbayan, and Carmen.

Alburo said the assessment reveals that there are five barangays in Cebu City that are considered to be most hazardous to flooding and these are Kasambagan, Kinasang-an, Labangon, Mabolo, Bonbon, downtown areas and along the Guadalupe River; and seven barangays in Mandaue City to include Subangdaku, Mantuyong, Umapad, Opao, Alang-alang, Guizo, and Pakna-an.

In Negros Oriental, five barangays in Guihulngan City, namely, Humayhumay, Imelda, Mabunga, Sandayao, and Tacpao have high susceptibility to landslides.  There are 12 barangays with moderate to high susceptibility to landslide and these are Bakid, Banwaque, Calamba, Calupa-an, Linantuyan, Mabunga, Maniak, Plagatasanon, Planas, Trinidad, Binobohan, and Villegas.

In La Libertad, nine barangays with high landslide susceptibility are Aniniaw, Aya, Biga-a, Guihob, Kansumandig, Mambutod, Managondong, Pangca, and Pitogo.  Barangay Mandapaton has moderate to high susceptibility to landslide.  Eleven barangays with moderate susceptibility to landslide are Manluminsag, Busilak, Cantopa, Elecia (Talostos), Eli, Manghulyawon, Martilo, Nasungon, San Jose, Solongon, and Tala-on.

Around nine barangays in Bayawan City, namely Banga, Maninihon, Poblacion, Villareal, Nangka, Suba, Ubos, Pagatban and Kalumbuyan are flood-prone areas.

Also in Siaton, barangays Poblacion II, Poblacion III, Poblacion IV, and San Jose are flood-prone areas, same with barangays Calicugan, Maloh, Cabangahan, Giliga-on, Bonawan and Apoloy.

In Basay, the flood-prone areas are barangays near Tyabanan, Pagatban, and Basay rivers.

A total of eight barangays in Dumaguete City are considered the same, namely Candau-ay, Cadawinonan, Tabuctubig, Batinguel, Poblacion, Junob, Poblacion 2, and Bagakay.

In Siquijor, six barangays have been assessed to be highly susceptible to landslides and flooding and these are Libo in Enrique Villanueva; Bintangan, and Helen, in Larena; and Cang-isad, Luyang, and Sabang, in Siquijor.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 has prepared 8,000 family food packs for tropical storm Seniang victims in Central Visayas and now ready for distribution to affected communities.

As of December 30 (12 noon), about 1,917 family food packs were ready for distribution to the town of Barili, which was badly affected by the typhoon due to flooding and landslide.

DSWD-7 regional director Mercedita Jabagat earlier disclosed that their agency is always ready to augment and distribute relief packs should the LGU request for it.

She added that DSWD-7 has enough stockpile for 30,000 family food packs and P706,318.48 standby fund.

Family food packs usually contain 6 kilos of rice, 8 canned goods, 8 noodles and 8 coffee packs.

For the meantime, the Provincial Government offices of Bohol and Negros Oriental are on top of their respective relief efforts.

In Bohol, there were 1,900 bags of rice worth more than P2 million purchased by DSWD-7 from the National Food Authority for relief efforts augmentation in the province that declared state of calamity today.

Moreover, the DSWD-7 Quick Response Team was immediately activated last December 29 and continues to coordinate with local disaster councils to monitor and assess the extent of the damage, and to identify other services needed by the affected families.  (FREEMAN)