Talisay's landslide and flood-prone areas identified

CEBU, Philippines - The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) - 7 identified a total of 33 sitios in 17 barangays in Talisay City, Cebu to be highly susceptible to landslides and flooding.

Loreto B. Alburo, MGB-7 regional director, said that based on the results of the 1:10,000-scale geohazards assessment conducted early this year, 77 percent of the 22 barangays in Talisay City are high risks to either landslides or flooding.

“Eight sitios in seven barangays are rated high for landslides, and 25 sitios in 12 barangyas were flood-prone areas,” said Alburo.

The places with high landslide susceptibility rating are Barangay Proper, Camp 4; Zone 1, Candulawan; Campo 2, Jaclupan; Iba, Lagtang; Caduldulan, Lawaan 3; Barangay Proper, Manipis; and Campos, Purok 7, all in Tapul.

The same assessment indicates the following areas for flooding: Proper and Zone 2, Biasong; Zone 2, Candulawan; Barangay Hall Proper, Tugas, Santo Niño, Baybay, and Karomahan, all in Dumlog; Ilang-ilang and Santa Catalina, Lagtang; near San Isidro, Lawaan II; Kasagingan, and Riverside, Lawaan; Lower Linao, Linao Proper, San Miguel, all in Linao; Cabutoy, Dapdap and Sunrise, Pooc, Pangpang, Isla Verde, and Ilang-ilang, San Isidro; San Roque; Rattan, Tangke; and Purok 5, Tapul.

Alburo said that the geohazard mapping and assessment program is a banner project of DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje as an important component of the government’s risk reduction and disaster management program.

The program involves the identification of areas in the country prone to various geologic hazards like rain-induced landslides, floods, ground subsidence or sinking, coastal degradation and other forms slope instabilities.

Alburo added that the DENR is now embracing the varied effects of climate change – severe flooding, landslides, drought and people have to adapt to these changes and be ready always.

He also stressed the need to develop or implement precautionary measures and early warning system to somehow reduce the impacts brought about by these geohazards. — (FREEMAN)