Tuesday, June 03, 2008 Mines bureau clarifies 'warning' on Macambol By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-Southern Mindanao clarified the warning they raised on the geo-hazard threat in Barangay Macambol in the City of Mati, Davao Oriental.
MGB-Southern Mindanao director Edilberto Arreza said though there is high risk for the area to experience landslides since it is situated on the foot of the Philippine fault, he clarified they are not ordering for an immediate evacuation of residents in the area.
He said what they wanted to do is for the residents to be aware of the threat and be informed of the mitigating measures that could be done to prevent a disaster.
Arreza said one way of mitigating the threat is by identifying the areas where residents could possibly seek refuge in case a landslide occurs.
He said the MGB has already done its part in informing the local government units (LGUs), provincial disaster coordinating council (PDCC), and other concerned agencies about the danger in Macambol and it is time for the LGUs to do their part in implementing the mitigating measures.
Arreza made the clarification after the City Government of Mati criticized the way MGB-Southern Mindanao had been declaring publicly the geo-hazard threat in the area.
He said it is not the MGB's intention to create panic among the 2,000 residents in the area but just inform them of the threat.
MGB chief geologist Dindin Velasco said they had already conducted three consultation meetings in the area since 2006 and had given copies to the LGU's affected and even to the Office of the Governor and the PDCC.
Velasco said the tectonic setting in Macambol is exactly the same with the situation in St. Bernard in Guinsaugon, Leyte where close to 1,500 residents were buried under mud and rock during a landslide in February 2006.
St. Bernard is also located near a fault line just like Macambol. The St. Bernard tragedy happened after torrential rain and a mild quake.
Velasco said the MGB warning was made purposely to save the lives of the people residing in the area, adding that they do not want a repeat of the St. Bernard tragedy in Macambol.
