MGB-8: Landslides threaten 1,767 barangays

PALO, LEYTE, Philippines  — A total of 1,767 out of 2,114 barangays in 107 towns have been identified by the Mines and Geosciences-Region 8 as landslide-prone areas in Eastern Visayas.

The data was culled from the results of the recent rapid geo-hazard assessment conducted by geologists from the National Capital Region who were commissioned by MGB-8.

MGB-8 regional director Roger de Dios said those named in the assessment report as landslide prone areas are Maasin City and the towns of Silago, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Anahawan, San Juan, St. Bernard, Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, Libagon, Sogod, Bontoc, Tomas Oppus, Malitbog, Padre Burgos, Macrohon and Limasawa, all in Southern Leyte.

"One-hundred four villages were identified as highly susceptible to landslide, 142 moderate and 208 are posted to be low susceptible in Southern Leyte," de Dios said

The town of St. Bernard has 24 of its 30 barangays at high risk to landslide. "The remaining six villages including the town's center are flood prone," he said.

De Dios said the entire island-province of Biliran, consisting of seven mainland towns, were also identified prone to landslides, 18 barangays of which were posted to be at high risk, 45 at moderate and 37 at low risk. The island-town of Maripipi was also identified as landslide risk.

De Dios said 31 out of 41 towns in Leyte province are landslide prone with the towns of Leyte, Isabel, Capoocan, Mahaplag and Abuyog as high risk areas, along with inland villages in the towns of Burauen, La Paz and MacArthur and Baybay.

The geo-hazard assessment further revealed that in Eastern Samar, landslide and flood-prone towns are Maydolong, Mercedes, Oras, Quinapondan, Salcedo, San Julian, San Policarpio, Sulat, Balangiga, Balangkayan, Borongan, Can-Avid, Dolores, Giporlos, Guian, Hernani, Lawaan, Llorente, Gen. Mc-Arthur, and Taft.

At least 54 villages there were identified as high risk to landslide, 76 were moderate and 89 were low hazard.

In Northern Samar, the towns confirmed to be prone to landslides are Lope de Vega, Mapanas, Mondragon, Palapag, Pambujan, Rosario, San Antonio, San Isidro, San Jose, San Roque, San Vicente, Catubig, Gamay, Allen, Biri, Bobon, Capul, Catarman, Laoang, Lapinig, Las Navas, Lavezares, and Victoria.

A total of 86 villages in that province were identified as high risk to landslide, 167 were moderate and 133 were low, said the MGB-8 report.

Samar province has the lowest number of areas prone to landslide with only Calbayog City and the towns of Basey, Marabut and Talalora, together with 15 villages, deemed highly susceptible, 11 moderate and 10 low. (FREEMAN)