3 Cebu City barangays experience minor landslides due to heavy rains
MGB-7 reiterates list of Cebu City brgys. highly susceptible to landslides
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, February 15 (PIA) --- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-7 reiterated its findings that portions of Barangays Busay, Binaliw, and Pulangbato in Cebu City are highly susceptible to landslides following the downpour of intense rains in Cebu.
In an official report from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), the three mentioned barangays experienced minor landslides yesterday after the heavy downpour of rains.
The barangays are located northwest of Cebu City and have steep terrains that are prone to the occurrence of landslides.
MGB-7 geologists assessed the barangays as high landslide susceptibility and flood prone areas after having obtained a rain-induced rapid field assessment of landslide conducted on August 2007 and July 2008.
The assessment focused on barangays that are situated on foot slopes, mid slopes and mountain ridges.
Out of the 80 barangays in Cebu City that were covered by the assessment, 19 barangays have high susceptibility to landslides including Busay, Binaliw and Pulangbato while 13 others are moderately susceptible and eight have low landslide susceptibility.
The assessment findings and recommendations of the MGB 7 geologist-team were given to the barangay captains of the concerned barangays. In fact, the MGB 7 issued landslide threat advisories twice on August 2007 and September 2010 which were addressed to the barangay captains of Binaliw, Busay, and Pulangbato.
Copies of the results of the geological assessment by the MGB 7 were also furnished to the Office of the Mayor of Cebu City.
MGB-7 Regional Director Loreto B. Alburo urged local officials and communities to familiarize themselves with the results and recommendations of the assessment team and pay attention to areas that are found to be highly susceptible to flooding and landslides.
Information gathered by the MGB-7 on its August 2007 and September 2010 geological assessment report indicated that these barangays had signs of mass movement due to the presence of old, inactive and localized landslides.
The team also noted the type of rock which is mostly volcanics characterized as highly or completely weathered, fractured and altered materials. This type easily absorbs water and gets saturated resulting to ground failure or landslides, this is said.
“It is highly important that local chief executives revisit critical areas that are found to be highly vulnerable to flooding and landslides which have been known to them as indicated in the geohazards threat advisory issued to them.” Alburo stressed.
In 2007, the team made the following recommendations to local government units namely: a close monitoring of mass movement, develop an early warning device or system, identify evacuation site, and observe for rapid increase and decrease in creek and river water levels, possibly accompanied by increased turbidity.
It also recommended a continuous monitoring for saturated ground or seeps in areas that are not normally wet, and monitor sunken or displaced road surfaces. (fcr/hfg/PIA-7/DENR-7)
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Brushing teeth helps prevent heart disease
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, February 15 (PIA) -- Never break the habit of regularly brushing your teeth, at the very least twice a day, because such practice actually prevents the development of heart disease.
This is the advice of Dr. Philip Yray of the Department of Health (DOH) 7 during a PIA Kapihan this morning in observance of the Dental Health Awareness Month every February.
“If one does not brush his or her teeth regularly and tooth decay develops, this will lead to tooth abscess if left untreated. Meaning, there is already an infection and the bacteria can go down to your organs like in the heart. This can result to bacterial endocarditis,” Yray said.
Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart called the endocardium. If left untreated, bacterial endocarditis can damage one’s heart valves and can be life-threatening, this is learned.
Dr. Rodivick Docor, past president of the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) – Cebu Chapter in the same forum said bad oral hygiene practices can also lead to lung and kidney disease because the germs can lodge in these organs aside from the heart.
“The bacteria from the tooth infection can go to your major organs like the heart, lungs and kidneys. The bacteria commonly involved is the streptococci type,” according to Docor.
Docor advised the public to brush their teeth especially before going to bed. “When we sleep, we do not produce saliva which has a cleansing action. And in such case, bacteria can feast orally and starts to gradually damage your teeth without you knowing it until such time that pain develops from tooth decay or infection,” Docor bared.
Docor also advised that it is ideal to visit the dentist every six months or at the very least once a year.
In celebration of the Dental Health Awareness Month, the PDA – Cebu Chapter conducted free dental missions to raise public awareness on good oral hygiene.
“The mouth and teeth are the most neglected parts of the body. It is time that we give importance to them and promote our own health at the same time,” Docor ended. (PIA-Cebu)
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Cebu ports to establish special lane for senior citizens, pregnant women & physically-challenged, CPA says
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, February 15 (PIA) -- Senior citizens, pregnant women and the physically-challenged will no longer have to queue for long at the passenger terminals of Cebu ports as a special lane dedicated for them will be established soon.
Cebu Port Authority (CPA) - Port Security Safety and Environmental Management Department Manager Oscar Lopez said the creation of separate frontline services reserved for senior citizens, pregnant women and the physically-handicapped is part of their move to continually upgrade customer services.
“This is part of our continuing improvement of customer services in our port terminals,” Lopez declared.
CPA also plans to have a parking area solely reserved for physically-challenged individuals for them to easily disembark, Lopez bared.
“We need to always consider the special needs of certain passengers so that it wouldn’t be difficult for them when they go out from the taxi or private vehicle,” the CPA official said.
Lopez also said that automated access system will be implemented within the year.
“As a primary port in the Philippines, the CPA wants its ports to have automated systems in place in line with providing efficient and world-class services,” Lopez said.
“Not only do we seek to continually improve our services for passenger safety and convenience but likewise, with cargo handling operations as well,” the CPA official disclosed.
Lopez said the port plays an important role in the economic progress of Cebu. (PIA-Cebu)
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PAF airlifts 200 relief packs from DSWD for NegOr quake victims
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, February 15 (PIA) -- About 200 relief goods including packed rice, canned goods, bottled water and used clothing were airlifted by the Philippine Air Force using their UH1H helicopter to Barangay Owacan in the town of Jimalalud in Negros Oriental.
The operation was joined with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Central Visayas and the Philippine Army to reach out to the affected and hard-to-reach villages by airlifting food commodities and family packs since Sunday.
Another 180 food packs and other relief items were also airlifted yesterday to the isolated villages of Eli and Pacuan, also located in Jimalalud municipality by its local government unit (LGU).
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army also assisted the DSWD-7 in delivering its 250 food packs to the remote areas affected by the landslide like Brgy. Planas in Guihulngan City.
Another 450 family packs with used clothing and bottled water were also dispatched for Barangay Villegas in Guilhulngan town using the Army’s KM 450 heavy duty military trucks.
To date, DSWD-7 Regional Director, Ma. Evelyn Macapobre reported initial assistance amounting to more than P17 million in the eight towns and cities affected by the killer quake. These areas are Ayungon, Bindoy, Guihulngan City, Jimalalud, la Libertad, Manjuyod , Tayasan and Vallehermoso, all in Negros Oriental, according to Macapobre.
Macapobre added that so far, all goods intended to the identified affected areas were already delivered to include rice, water, canned goods, used clothing, mats, blankets, slippers, cooking and eating utensils, detergents and more.
At the DSWD-7 Office in Cebu City, relief workers are working round the clock to pack to meet the demands for the delivery of food and other basic items to the earthquake stricken areas .(fcr/hfg/PIA-7/DSWD-7)