|
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Mayor approves P1M fund for geological hazard study
BAGUIO City Mayor Braulio Yaranon has allocated P1 million for the conduct of a geological hazard study to pinpoint the various geologically hazardous areas in the city and come up with suitable remedial measures.
The fund was among those proposed for inclusion in the supplemental budget as recommended by the mayor to the City Council for approval.
The City Government and the Mines and GeoSciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Cordillera under regional director Neoman Dela Cruz earlier hatched the plan, which was firmed up during a meeting with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Dec. 31, 2004.
The mayor earlier requested the DENR to provide a copy of a geo-hazard map to guide the City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC) in the monitoring of critical areas during the rainy season but since there was no such map detailing such information, the MGB was able to provide only a map showing susceptible areas all over the city.
In the project proposal, dela Cruz pointed out the need for an engineering geological and geo-hazard assessment of the city in view of its status as a tourist, commercial and educational center.
"Oftentimes, the effects of geologic and other natural hazards are overlooked by developers and government planners. The 1990 Luzon earthquake that brought considerable damage to the City and experiences from past typhoons emphasized the need to consider geologic hazards in infrastructure development," dela Cruz stressed.
He said the study aims to map the different geological hazards, assess the causes of these hazards and come up with suitable preventive measures to minimize their destructive effects. A map will be produced to serve as database to guide private developers, government planners and disaster managers.
The study, which will cover the whole of Baguio with a total area of 5,749.24 hectares, will be undertaken by the MGB Geosciences Development Division. (Aileen Refuerzo)
(October 25, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
