MINTAL ON FAULT LINE
An official of Davao region’s Office of Civil Defense (OCD) revealed that Barangay Mintal sits on top of the active fault line called Dacudao Fault System which may cause catastrophe when it moves considering that Mintal has no history of earthquake.
With this, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), chaired by OCD 11, has chosen the area for its first quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) tomorrow, February 21, to raise awareness on how to respond to the disaster should it occur.
OCD 11 information officer Leslie Francisco yesterday said that there is no technology or specific methods yet that could predict an impending earthquake.
“According to Phivolcs kung wala daw history ng minor quakes ang fault line mas delikado kung molinog. Mura ra daw na og kanang tao nga naghilom-hilom ra gani bisan nasuko unya kung mobuto na kay grabe (According to Phivolcs, if there is no history of minor quakes in the fault line it means it’s more dangerous when it moves),” Fransciso said.
Mintal, an emerging business and residential hub southwest of the city proper, is considered one of the fast growing areas of the city with about 15,000 residents.
“Unfortunately, the barangay also sits on the Dacudao Fault System, which is identified by the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-Phivolcs) as an active fault line that could trigger a destructive earthquake in Davao City,” she said.
Meanwhile, the activity will be held on Thursday, February 21, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.. The program will start with drill evaluators briefing at Barangay Gymnasium, program proper, deployment of drill evaluators, earthquake drill and post-evaluation meeting.
On the site map, the organizing committee has identified evacuation sites where the affected residents could go for a safer location in case of an earthquake.
These are located at Mintal Central Elementary School and Mintal Comprehensive National High School grounds; national highway fronting Holy Cross of Mintal; Holy Spirit Medical Center grounds; National Power Corporation grounds; barangay road outside of Purok 13 and barangay road outside of Purok 14.