The vulnerability of certain areas in Negros Oriental to experience landslides, particularly those hit by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake last Feb. 6, was discussed in the Negros Oriental Environmental Forum last Thursday, June 14.
Invited resource speakers were Editha A. Amascaray, supervising science research specialist & geologist of the Provincial Environment & Natural Resources Office, and Jocelyn P. Gongob, provincial planning & development officer.
Participants included business, civil society and religious leaders, members of the academe, government officials and media practitioners.
Forum organizer and Greenwatch Philippines chairman Donato FlordeLiza Jr., brought up the matter of making geo-hazard maps available to LGUs as soon as possible to help them in crafting new land use policies and legislations to promote the safety of their respective population and prevent future disasters.
He noted, for example, that about 75 percent of the total land areas of Guihulngan and La Libertad are highly vulnerable to earthquake.
Amascaray clarified that a DENR Region 7 Mines & Geosciences team headed by Ellen Lupo is presently conducting comprehensive mapping surveys in the entire province to update the geo-hazard maps after the February earthquake. She said that geo-hazards maps using the scale of 1:50,000 are already available online, but the MGB7 team is now preparing maps using the scale of 1:10,000, which will be more accurate.
Sharing the studies she conducted, Amascaray showed the audience where the fault lines in Negros Oriental are located, and presented photos that clearly demonstrated the vulnerability of many areas. She observed that most of these areas are denuded with no trees to hold the soil.
She said they are ready to assist LGUs upon request in determining the safety of proposed relocation sites for communities affected by both typhoon Sendong and the February earthquake.
Gongob made a clear and detailed presentation of the recent earthquake’s socio-economic impact on affected localities. She also presented a detailed assessment of damages in infrastructure: roads, bridges and buildings, and introduced the provincial government’s proposed comprehensive Strategic Action Plan to rehabilitate affected areas.
Having convened the NGO-initiated multi-sector 2012 Standing Conference on the Rehabilitation of Northern Negros last June 7, Dr. FlordeLiza raised the possibility of collaboration with the PPDO in finalizing the SAP. (PR)
