More studies and mapping of Bicol’s geohazard zones underway By Danny O. Calleja

January 25, 2012 // admin // Municipal

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 24 (PNA) – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is conducting more studies and mapping of landslide and flood prone areas in Bicol as it moves ahead this year into formulating for the region another geological hazard maps in 1:10,000 scale.

Unlike the first maps prepared by the MGB for at least 113 towns and cities in the region which were in 1:50,000 scale two years ago, the 1:10,000 scale maps will be more detailed and extensive in coverage, according to MGB regional technical director Luis Loyola here on Tuesday.

“Given its geographical location that makes it the front door of typhoons developing over the Pacific, Bicol Peninsula is considered under high risk area for natural disasters resulting from the prevailing climate change that is why this new set of geohazard maps is a must for use by local authorities for their disaster mitigation and risk reduction programs,” Loyola said.

Apart from this, Bicol’s forests have already lost about 75 percent of its original cover owing to man-made destructions ranging from illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming to forest clearing to give way to the developments like geothermal energy explorations, mining and opening of access roads. This situation is particularly true in Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Norte, and Catanduanes.

And while most of the localities that are considered priority areas already have their first set of geohazard maps in 1:500,000 scale, still, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through its MGB, Loyola said wants a more comprehensive material in scale 1:10,000 maps.

“We call this project densification of geohazard and climate change maps that would specific in a more precise and wider-scope detail of areas whose population are highly vulnerable and the parameters that could affect the stability of soil including the type and magnitude of landslides that may take place,” he explained.

Besides, according to the MGB regional chief, the formulation of this new set of maps is specified in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) entered into last year between the DENR through Environment and Natural Resources Sec. Ramon Paje and Albay Governor and Regional Development Council (RDC) chairman Joey Salceda.

The MOA has tasked the DENR to come up with the 1:10,000 scale maps and help in the information drive in high risk areas as part of the campaign to educate communities on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, Loyola said adding that these maps would be flood and landslide hazard models identifying high risk areas.

The MOA provides for more thorough studies on the hazards being posed by landslides and floods in Bicol provinces and cities.

To be included in the studies are the disaster risk reduction plans of local government units (LGUs) of Albay province particularly of this city and the cities of Ligao and Tabaco and the municipalities of Rapu-Rapu, Manito, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Sto. Domingo, Oas, Pioduran, Malinao, Tiwi, Jovellar, Bacacay, Malilipot, Polangui and Libon.

The three cities and the municipalities of Sto. Domingo, Malinao, Bacacay, Malilipot, Daraga, Camalig and Guinobatan all sit near the foot and along major crevices and rivers emanating from the slopes of Mt. Mayon while Rapu-Rapu is site of a giant mining operation.

Manito on the other hand is host to the operations of the geothermal power generation facilities of the Lopez-owned Energy Development Corporation (EDC) within the 250,000-hectare Bacon-Manito Geothermal Field while Tiwi is site of another geothermal energy facility being operated by Chevron.

Jovellar, Libon, Oas, Pioduran and Polangui are low-lying areas that serve as catch basin of flood waters from nearby mountains.

Meanwhile that the new maps are not yet ready, Loyola said local officials and disaster management authorities should maximize the use of the existing geohazard maps in 1:50,000 scale as it is their tools in identifying communities that need priority attention especially under the present situation that La Niña is dumping heavy rains in the region.

This weather phenomenon that could trigger flash floods and landslides has been prevailing in the region since the past three months and expected to last until February and “we are reiterating our reminders to LGU officials and residents with identified risk areas to take extra precautions to avoid any untoward incident that may result in loss of lives”, Loyola stressed. (PNA)
LAP/LQ/DOC/cbd/

More studies and mapping of Bicol’s geohazard zones underway By Danny O. Calleja

Related Posts via Categories

Readers Comments (0)

Nation

Have You Read?

Please Shout!

Sponsor’s Ad