Iloilo City – Regional Director Leo Van V. Juguan of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region-6 (MGB-6) cautions those who are living in areas that are highly prone to landslides to take precautionary measures now that Panay Island is expected to be hit by typhoon “Ramon” based on the PAG-ASA Weather Advisory.
As of 11:00 AM PAG-ASA advisory today, “tropical depression “Ramon” has maintained its strength as it continues to threaten Eastern Visayas and Northeastern Mindanao. Northern Negros, Northern Iloilo and Capiz are considered to be under storm signal No.1 together with the other areas in Visayas and Mindanao.
Director Juguan issued an advisory to all provinces reminding that based on the geohazard assessments conducted by MGB, there are areas in Region 6 that are highly prone to landslides.
All of the barangays in Region 6 were assessed for landslides and flooding risks in a rapid geohazard assessment conducted from 2006-2010. High risk barangays were given advisories for landslide and flooding risks.
The provinces of Antique, Iloilo and Negros Occidental have the most number of barangays with high vulnerability to landslides.
In Antique, eight municipalities topped the most number of barangays as highly prone to landslides namely San Remigio, Patnongon, Laua-an, Hamtic, Valderrama, Sibalom, Barbaza and Tobias Fornier.
In Iloilo, the municipalities of Leon, Igbaras, Tubungan, Maasin, Alimodian, Lambunao, Calinog, Guimbal, San Joaquin and Miagao have the most number of high-risk barangays to landslides.
The municipalities in Negros Occidental that have the most number of high risk barangays are Cauayan, Calatrava, Hinoba-an, Sipalay, Isabela, Kabankalan, La Castellana and Salvador Benidicto.
These municipalities in the three provinces are subject of a more detailed geohazard assessment on a map scale of 1:10,000 to be completed within three years. Detailed geohazard mapping of the eight municipalities of Iloilo is targeted to be completed this year.