SIX municipalities and three cities in Cebu, including Cebu City, are highly vulnerable to geological and natural hazards, such as landslides and flashfloods.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 revealed the list of “highly vulnerable” barangays in Cebu after conducting a rapid geohazard assessment of 2,773 barangays in Central Visayas, which is now completed.
Vulnerable areas
A geohazard assessment is needed so local government units (LGUs) can identify areas within their jurisdictions, which are susceptible to floods, landslides, liquefaction and other ground instabilities, such as earthquakes.
Loreto Alburo, MGB 7 director, said some barangays in Cebu City, Balamban, Toledo City, Pinamungahan, Duman-jug, Ronda, Asturias, Catmon and Talisay City were identified as completely vulnerable to natural disasters.
Nineteen barangays in Cebu City are considered “vulnerable.” They are 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.
In Balamban town, the barangays of Hingatmonan, Lamesa, Luca, Ginatilan, Cabasiangan, Matun-og, Cansomoroy, Gaas, Magsay-say, Cabagdalan, and Duangan are considered highly vulnerable.
In Toledo City, the barangays of Tungkay, Pangamihan, Bagacay, Loay and Das are being considered by MGB 7 as highly vulnerable.
In Pinamungajan, only Barangay Lamac is considered highly vulnerable.
In Asturias, the baran-gays of Agbanga, Baye, Bairan, Kanluangan and Sak-sak are also considered vulnerable.
In Catmon, the barangays identified as highly vulnerable are Amancion, Anapog, Bactas, Bongyas, Ambangkaya, Cabungaan, Canibuang, Duyan, Ginabucan, Panalipan, Tabili and Tinabyonan.
Geohazard mapping
In Talisay City, only Barangay Camp 6 is considered vulnerable, while Barangay Doldol in Dumanjug and Barangay Cansalonoy in Ronda are highly vulnerable.
A geohazard mapping also determines possible settlement sites, properties and infrastructures that will be affected by these geologic factors.
“The geohazard maps and reports, which contain information on the vulnerability of certain areas to various types of geologic and natural hazards, will be provided to the concerned LGUs” Director Alburo said.
Also, as part of the geohazard assessment, a team of geologists from MGB 7 observed the presence of pockets of sinkholes in seven barangays in Tagbiliran City, Bohol.
They said Poblacion 3, Bool, Dao, Mansasa, Cabawan, Tiptip, and Cogon are very vulnerable to the sinkhole phenomena. (JKV)