Wednesday, October 15, 2008 LGUs urged: Implement mitigating measures v. landslides By Carlo P. Mallo
THE Police Regional Office (PRO)-Southern Mindanao is now calling on local government units (LGUs) to implement mitigating measures in areas identified as geographically critical by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
"Take appropriate actions so that loss of lives and damage to properties could be avoided," said Chief Superintendent Andres Caro II, PRO-Southern Mindanao director and Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC)-Southern Mindanao chair.
A memo from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said the risk assessment made by MGB-Southern Mindanao showed there are at least 23 villages in the region that are considered "extremely high" and "very high" when it comes to landslide susceptibility.
Caro said the implementation of mitigating measures, such as settlement relocation for "highly" and "very highly" susceptible areas, as well as the monitoring of soil movements for all susceptible areas and integration of geo-hazard assessment in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), should be undertaken by the concerned LGUs and their respective disaster coordinating councils.
A total of 320 villages in Southern Mindanao have been identified by MGB as moderate, high, very high or extremely highly susceptible to landslides. The geo hazard mapping of the MGB showed that the 22 areas identified as highly susceptible to landslides are located in the provinces of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.
Areas in Davao Oriental that are identified to be of great risk are barangays San Pedro and Sobrecarey in Caraga; Tubaon in Tarragona; Mayo, Danao, Dawan, Mamali and Macambol in the City of Mati; Bitaugan in San Isidro; Calapagan in Lupon; and Punta Linao in Banaybanay.
In Compostela Valley Province, the barangays that are in "very high" risk are Libaylibay, New Leyte, Panaraon, New Barili, Masara, Tagbaros, Elizalde, and Panangan in Maco town; Tuburan in Mawab; Mt. Diwata in Monkayo; and Canidkid and New Cebulan in Montevista.
Only one barangay was identified to be "extremely high" in landslide susceptibility -- Barangay Mamali in the City of Mati.
Barangay Masara, site of a huge landslide that killed 21 people more than a month ago, was only categorized as "very high" in the list of MGB-Southern Mindanao.
Caro is hopeful that through the implementation of the mitigation measures and the vigilance of all concerned individuals, precious lives and properties could be saved. (With Press release)
