By the Philippine News Agency
LOILO CITY, April 17 (PNA) – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is bent on completing the rapid geohazard assessment in Western Visayas by 2010.
Initial data from the MGB here showed that 411 out of the 2,536 barangays assessed are highly prone to landslide; 342 moderately susceptible and 493 have low potentials.
Barangays with high potentials refer to those with presence of active faults or there was an occurrence of recent landslides, presence of numerous and large tension cracks that would directly affect the community, there are areas that are prone to landslide damming and have steep slopes.
Of these identified highly susceptible barangays 216 are from Iloilo; 158, Antique; Aklan, 17; Capiz, 16 and Negros Occidental, one.
Those with moderate potentials on the other hand have areas with inactive and old landslides and there are presence of smaller tension cracks which are located away from the community.
Around 193 barangays that are moderately suscepetible are in Iloilo; 93, Antique; Aklam, 48 and Capiz, 38.
Barangays with low potentials have low and gently sloping areas but there are no tension cracks.
MGB disclosed that 267 of these barangays are in Iloilo; 128 in Capiz; 75 from Antique and Aklan, 23.
MGB regional director Leo Van Juguan said most of these barangays which are prone to landslide are located in mountainous areas.
After the site assessment, barangay leaders are provided with advisory sheet.
The assessment started in 2006 and to date MGB has assessed 72 municipalities; 28 are from Iloilo, 18 from Antique; 17 from Capiz; eight from Aklan and one from Negros Occidental.
Areas that are yet to be assessed are from Guimaras, Negros Occidental and Iloilo.
The geohazard mapping can be used by concerned local government units for their land use plan and disaster reduction management. (PNA)