218 Negros Oriental villages identified as geohazards

NEGROS ORIENTAL — The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Central Visayas has identified at least 218 villages in Negros Oriental has geological hazards based on assessment and mapping.

The MGB 7 immediately launched an intensive information drive targeting the identified barangays located in the towns of Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, San Jose, Sibulan, Zamboanguita, Dauin, Bacong, Valencia, and Dumaguete City, to make the residents aware of their respective areas’ identification as geological hazards.

The bureau has completed its 1:10,000 scale assessment and mapping and has identified areas susceptible to a rain-induced landslide and flooding. The maps are to be used in managing the natural threats.

By delivering accurate and understandable maps and lessons from previous disasters, MGB-7 hopes that the information campaign will be translated into effective disaster and evacuation plans and used as a reference in development planning by the local government units.

“A proactive local government unit and an informed citizenry will minimize and prevent adverse impact of calamities in the neighborhood,” the MGB 7 said in a statement.

Risk reduction officers, public school heads, barangay, town and provincial officials, members of the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection were invited to join in the education and workshop conducted by the team from MGB-7.

“Being aware of the hazards in the community is the first step to effective disaster mitigation,” said MGB-7 Director Loreto B. Alburo.