AFTER identifying the barangays that transect in the Davao Central Fault System, the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Center (CDRRMC) advised the affected families to move their structures or relocate, especially those that directly sit on top of the fault line.
Given the danger and the impact that the earthquake may produce, CDRRMC operations officer Rodrigo Bustillo said they urged the affected residents to consider moving or redesigning their houses to withstand the earthquake’s impact as the fault line may move any time.
“Kung drastic recommendation atong tan-awon, atong i-recommend nga muhawa sila along the fault line kay although dili nato na ma-predict kanus-a pero there is a possibility nga mulihok ang mga fault line. Ang pinakamaayo ana nga prevention nga mupalayo sila away from the fault line (Our drastic recommendation would be for them to stay away from the fault line because the earthquake is unpredictable),” Bustillo said.
The Walk the Fault activity last week in Bago Oshiro and Mintal together with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and other agencies was helpful in identifying the actual location of the fault line and marking them as precaution.
It was also part of their efforts in preparing for possible disaster.
The Central Davao Fault System has five segments, including the Tamugan Fault with 25 kilometers (kms) length and can produce 6.7-magnitude earthquake; Lacson Fault with 33 kms and can trigger a 6.8-magnitude quake; 18-kilometer Dacudao Fault with 6.5-magnitude quake; Pangyan-Biao with 33 kms and 6.8-magnitude quake; and the 12-kilometer New Carmen Fault that may cause a 6.3-magnitude earthquake.
“Mao na karon nahibalo sila asa nga area ang ilahang mga property nga naay nag fault nga nag-agi so gi-advise gyud nga kung dunay option nga makabalhin or makasibog so yan ang the best thing na himoon (Since they already know where their properties are located, if they have the option to transfer or move, do so),” Bustillo added.
Asked whether the City Government of Davao is prepared to respond to the possible impact of the ground movement, he said they have been conducting several earthquake drills to train the public about drop, cover, and hold to protect themselves during an earthquake as well as how to respond after a disaster.