14 Cagayan Valley towns face geological risks

SANTIAGO CITY, Philippines  – At least 14 Cagayan Valley towns, eight of them located in mountainous areas, have been identified as highly vulnerable to landslide or soil erosion.

Quoting reports from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the Philippine Information Agency here identified some of these towns as Ambaguio, Kasibu, Kayapa, Santa Fe, Quezon and parts of Aritao in Nueva Vizcaya; and Cabarroguis, Maddela and Nagtipunan in Quirino.

Mario Ancheta, MGB director for Cagayan Valley, said Isabela’s Pacific coastal towns of Palanan, Maconacon, Dinapigue and Divilacan are also identified as landslide-prone besides being flash flood or tsunami hot spots.

Isabela’s central San Mariano town, which lies at the foothills of Sierra Madre, is also prone to landslides.

Kasibu and Quezon towns, both mountainous areas, have been the site of illegal small-scale mining activities, which, if left unchecked, could cause massive landslides and flash floods.