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Wednesday, January 14, 2004
40 landslide-prone areas in Cordi identified
By Harley F. Palangchao
BAGUIO -- The local environment office warned residents in at least 40 identified geological hazard areas in the Cordilleras Tuesday to heed safety measures following the Southern Leyte landslide tragedy.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) furnished local government units (LGUs) copies of the updated and more comprehensive compiled data regarding the geologic hazard areas in the region.
The updated geological map showed that geologic hazard areas include: ground sinking at City Camp, Rock Quarry and Crystal Cave and slope failure along KM 3 in San Luis Village; flooding and ground settlement liquefaction at the La Trinidad valley; ground instabilities in Balakbak, Kapangan; landslide at Colalo, active ground subsidence at Let-angan and Aurora St., Poblacion, and pipe-outs in Sapid and Pacda, all in Mankayan, Benguet where the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company operates.
Ground subsidence was also noted in Padcal, Tuba, where the Philex Mining Corporation is located.
On the other hand, landslide-prone sites include portions of Mankayan, Abatan to Buguias towards the road going to Natubleng down to Kabayan; Daclan going to Bokod towards Nueva Vizcaya; portions of road going to Ambuklao Dam; parts of Halsema Highway traversing the towns of Buguias, Atok, Tublay and La Trinidad; areas towards Itogon municipality; Naguilian Road along Sablan as well as that of Kennon Road.
The MGB office also revealed that potential landslides could occur in Tangadan, San Quintin, Abra; Taga, Pinukpok in Kalinga and Tuyangan, Cabugao in Apayao; possible flooding in Lamut, Ifugao; Lagangilang, Abra; Samok I in Bontoc, Mt. Province; Capagaypayan, Luyon, Luna and in Imelda, Alem and San Antonio in Pudtol, Apayao.
Ground subsidence and unstable ground hazards have also been identified in Pantikian, Balbalan, Kalinga and Butac, Natonin, Poblacion and Amkiling in Sagada, Mt. Province.
Engr. Felizardo Gacad, chief of the MGB-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) mines and safety division, said residents within the geological hazard areas might suffer the same fate as that of the Southern Leyte residents if concerned government agencies will not do their part to ensure the protection of their constituents.
The landslide tragedy in Southern Leyte claimed almost 200 lives.
"The idea of distributing the updated map is for the LGUs to be properly informed and for them to cause action," Gacad said.
He said some LGUs are using the updated geologic hazard map in mapping out their land zoning programs. The map is also important in issuing permits for development projects, building permits and disaster preparedness of respective local government units.
He added some LGUs already warned residents in geologic hazard areas to relocate to safer ground during continuous rains and abnormal precipitation.
In Baguio and Benguet, officials took cognizance of the importance of the geological hazard map following Typhoon Feria where countless residents died due to soil and rock slides.
The MGB said based on slope classification and land area, 58.74 percent of the region's total 1,829,368 hectares is classified as very steep and prone to landslide and other mass movements.
It also noted that the presence of major faults crisscrossing the region, most of them classified as "non-earthquake generators", could trigger weak points that could eventually result to mass movement, ground instability or potential landslide occurrence.
The faults include the nearby Digdig Fault, which is an extension of the Philippine fault zone that extends towards the Abra River Fault and could cause substantial damage; the San Manuel Fault and the Tuba and Tebu faults, among others.
In Baguio, major faults include the Mirador, Burnham, Bued River and the area along Loakan.
(January 14, 2004 issue)
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