BAGUIO CITY , Philippines – Baguio City remains to be safe, the environment department and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau assured amid fears of landslide-prone areas.
Clarifying an earlier report that the city is 90 percent vulnerable to landslides, MGB-CAR Director Samuel Paragas said they have only classified areas in the city in terms of “landslide-proneness” such as low to none, moderate, critical and highly susceptible.
He said that their geo-hazard mapping is meant more for mitigations rather than sending people to panic.
Paragas reminded that the country lies within the circum-Pacific Ring of Fire that is frequented by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and Cordillera having the highest range of mountains is susceptible to erosion or landslides.
MGB Mines and Safety Division chief Zards Gacad indicated the percentage figure is a summation of the various classifications. He said that people should not look at the number as their geo-hazard mapping provides data on the vulnerability and risk susceptibility of the areas.
Residents and the local government units should look at the vulnerability of the area so they can have mitigation plans or put in place mitigation measures, he said.
“Geo-hazard mapping gives us a guide, as we need correlation to mitigate or to lessen the negative effects of the possible hazard in each area. If we know the condition of the area we can apply mitigation measures, in terms of water supply, drainage and upon knowing the characteristics or nature of the area, there are also professionals and experts such as architects and civil engineers who could design the appropriate structures,” Gacad said. – Artemio Dumlao