MGB-7 identifies 39 barangays in La Liberta and Guihulngan as landslide prone
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, February 10 (PIA) -- Responding to the need of site assessment on the reported earthquake-induced landslide incidents, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7) deployed a team of geologists and mining engineers immediately to Negros Oriental specifically in the areas badly hit by the February 6 earthquake.
MGB-7 regional director Loreto Alburo said this developed after many areas reportedly were affected by the earthquake-triggered landslides following a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit the Visayas region.
In its inspection on February 7, the team noted an artificial dam or building up of water in two sites along Tinayunan River in Barangay Tinayunan Beach in Guihulngan City.
It immediately recommended the evacuation of residents downstream of river including evacuees at Tent City in Barangay Tinayunan Beach due to the possibility that the artificial dams could collapse.
MGB-7 has identified 39 barangays in La Libertad and Guihulngan, Negros Oriental with high and moderate landslide susceptibility ratings on its rain-induced geological assessment.
Alburo urged local government officials to revisit the geo-hazards threat advisory that MGB distributed to them in 2009.
Following the 2009 geological assessment report in Guihulngan City, five barangays--Humayhumay, Imelda, Mabunga, Sandayao, and Tacpao have high susceptibility to landslide. Barangay Binobohan has moderate to high susceptibility to landslide.
There are eleven barangays in Guihulngan with moderate susceptibility to landslide and these are Bakid, Banwaque, Calamba, Calupa-an, Linantuyan, Mabunga, Maniak,Plagatasanon, Planas, Trinidad, and Villegas.
In La Libertad MGB-7 identified nine barangays with high landslide susceptibility which are Aniniaw, Aya, Biga-a, Guihob, Kansumandig, Mambutod, Managondong, Pangca, and Pitogo.
Barangay Mandapaton has moderate to high susceptibility to landslide. Eleven barangays with moderate susceptibility to landslide are Manluminsag, Busilak, Cantopa, Elecia (Talostos), Eli, Manghulyawon, Martilo, Nasungon, San Jose, Solongon, and Tala-on.
“Although it was a rain-induced assessment, we are seeing now a similar occurrence in an earthquake-induced landslides or ground failure,” Alburo added.
Earthquakes can produce slope instability, tension cracks and fractures that may enhance the vulnerability to landslides. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & DENR-7)
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Stakeholders dialogue on making Cebu sustainable
By Amorganda A. Saludar
CEBUCITY, February 10 (PIA) -- The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc (RAFI) is conducting a 5-day learning event aimed at crafting solid and integrated plans in creating a smart and sustainable Metro Cebu. The activity which began on February 6 will end today.
Government officials, planners, architects, engineers, educators business people, NGO leaders community members and students gathered in a productive exchange of ideas and in drafting methods and techniques geared towards strengthening the capacity and proficiency of local planners on the possibilities of reaching the target of creating a sustainable Metro Cebu.
With the theme “Creating Future Cities: Where Do We Begin” the event discussed and to came up with plans and measures to counter the present phenomenon of Metro Cebu’s rapid urbanization.
This is the real situation that Metro Cebu is facing now that includes serious social, economical and environmental challenges that resulted in declining competitiveness and quality of life and rapid urbanization.
The“Sustainable City Dialogues 2012” also featured two internationally renowned speakers, Architect Senen Antonio , an urban designer and planner based in the United States and Dr. AbdouMaliq Simone, an urbanist and professor of sociology at Goldsmiths College University of London.
Topics included in the 5-day event are; New Urbanism and Metropolitan Design; Livabiltiy Issues; Smart Growth; City- Region Planning and Governance and Urban Sociology.
There were also series of quick tours in municipalities, cities and schools in Metro Cebu and courtesy calls and lunches with mayors and a courtesy call to Gov Gwen Garcia at the Capitol.
There was also an orientation and round table discussions with RAFI, RPOD, NEDA, MCDCB Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs.
Part of the event was a meeting with Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale; RAFI Mega Team Cebu; PPDO Quiroga and Chairs of relevant Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committees to discuss various network links in planning.
Forums and Training/Seminar- Workshop on Traditional Neighborhood Design/Form-Based Code and Planning /Smartcode; Scenario Planning and Charrette Methodology were also included in the Dialog.
A public forum on “Creating Future Cities: People and Place-making” encouraged the multi-sector discourse.
To conclude the event was a Round-Table-Discussion cum Dialogue with DPWH, DOTC, HLURB, HUDCC, NHA, DILG, LTO, LTFRB, NEDA, Planning Officers, Architects, Civil Engineers, OBOs, CLGOOs, Chairs of relevant Sangguniang Panlungsod Committees of all 13 LGUs in Cebu Province. (mbcn/as/PIA-Cebu)
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Miners volunteer for search, rescue and retrieval operations in quake-hit areas in NegOr
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, February 10 (PIA) --- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) is coordinating a 49-member team of miners to conduct search, rescue and retrieval operations on the earthquake-induced landslide incidents in various parts of Negros Oriental, including Sitio Moog, Barangay Planas, Guihulngan City and La Libertad.
MGB-7 regional director Loreto Alburo said that MGB and PMSEA have a Pusong Minero advocacy program on the prevention, preparedness and emergency response to natural and man-made emergencies. in support to the national government’s disaster and coordination program.
The team has been conducting search, rescue and retrieval efforts in coordination with various institutions.
Carmen Copper Corporation sent an 18-member search and rescue team; Apex Mining Corporation and Philex Mining Corporation have eight and 12 rescue members, respectively while the Philippine Saga Mining Corporation sent an 11-member response team.
The PMSEA also sent a water purifier, water tank and plastic bottles for purified water distribution.
Alburo explained that the PMSEA is an organization of mining companies, quarries, cement plants, suppliers, service contractors, professional organizations and government agencies that advocate a national campaign for occupational safety, health and environmental hazards of mining and its related operations.
One of the projects of the association is the Safety Networking Action Program (SNAP) that was launched in September 2003. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & DENR-7)
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MGB-7 geologists assess reported tension cracks, landslides in Ronda, Cebu
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, February 10 (PIA) --- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB7) in Central Visayas sent again a team of geologists to conduct a site assessment on the reported tension cracks and landslides in Barangay Vive, Ronda, Cebu this morning.
Information gathered by the MGB-7 on its March 27, 2010 geological assessment report indicated that barangays in Ronda had evidences of mass movement due to the presence of old and inactive landslides and patchy soil creep and has been categorized as high landslides susceptibility.
On March 27, 2010, a team of geologists conducted a field assessment of 14 barangays in Ronda, Cebu . The geo-hazard assessment focused on both the landslide and flood susceptibilities of the barangays.
The report also stated that hills bounding the northeastern side of Barangay Vive had developed tension cracks and the area is seriously experiencing ground subsidence due to the dissolution of the underlying limestone and development of underground caverns.
MGB-7 recommended that Barangay Vive proper as a permanent danger zone and to avoid settlement at the foot of the slope.
Other recommendations included monitoring and observing the presence of mass movements; identifying evacuation site and observing for saturated ground or seeps in areas that are not typically wet; and observing for sunken or displaced road surfaces.
In 1996, the MGB-7 recommended to the local government units for the relocation of Langin National High School and other residents in Vive, Ronda.
MGB-7 regional director Loreto Alburo said, the findings and recommendations of the team were relayed to the barangay and municipal officials of Ronda immediately after the assessment per barangay.
Senior Geologists Maria Elena Lupo and Josephine Aleta will again check the area.
“Incessant rains brought about by the tail-end of a cold front affecting Visayas and Mindanao and recent aftershocks may trigger the occurrence of geological and natural hazards such as landslides,” Alburo added.
Alburo urged people for continued vigilance and alertness at all times especially those communities or residents living near or at the foot of the mountaina and in the low-lying areas as many geo-hazards are rain-induced and earthquake related.
According to Alburo the barangays were provided with a geohazard threat advisory, when appropriate.
The advisory informs the barangays of their susceptibility to landslides and flooding and it also contains the corresponding recommendations particular to the barangay. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & DENR-7)