MGB gives geohazard maps to ComVal

NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley (PIA) - - The Mines and Geosciences Bureau XI boosted the disaster risk management of Compostela Valley through providing Updated Geohazard Maps.

During the meeting of the Provincial Task Force

for Naboc River, Regional Director Jasper Alberto Lascano of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau XI (MGB 11) handed over a Detailed Landslide and Flood Geohazard Maps to Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy.

Regional Director Lascano said that being a mountainous area, all municipalities in Compostela Valley are prone to landslides and flood.

Lascano said that the maps will help the province in their development projects especially in the affected areas, and in disaster prevention and management.

According to matrix from the MGB, 228 out of the 237 barangays in the province have areas with high to very high susceptibility to landslide and flood.

The matrix also showed that 132 barangays have areas with high to very high susceptibility to landslide; while 161 barangays have areas with high to very high susceptibil- ity to flood.

MGB XI chief geologist Beverly Mae Brebante described the areas with high to very high susceptibility to landslide with steep to very steep slopes and highly weathered soil.

She added that areas with high susceptibility to landslide have past occurrences; while the very high susceptibility have tension cracks and recent landslide incidences.

On flood susceptibility, Brebante said that the parameters, among others, are the depth of the flood in the area based on historical data, in which high susceptibility has a flood depth of 1-2 meters; while more than that is considered as very high susceptibility.

In the effects of the trough of low pressure area that hit the province on Jan. 14, 154 families or 671 individuals from five barangays were evacuated.