THE OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE (OCD), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Sunday identified at least 548 landslide and flood-prone areas in the Caraga Region and Region 11.
As this developed, the OCD and DENR called on the public to be vigilant for possible occurrence of landslides, and even flash floods due to the abnormal weather condition that caused by torrential rains in the two regions.This news reminded us of a simple line that is often forgotten: "Preparedness is the best key to survival."
The DENR and OCD also urged the public, particularly those living in landslide- and flood-prone areas to be ''alert at all times''.
Caraga Region OCD Director Blanche T. Gobenciong said that at least 291 barangays (villages) in Northeastern Mindanao are identified as flood-prone areas, while 183 villages are potential landslide-prone areas.
Region 11 DENR Regional Executive Director Jim O. Sampulna also said that since 2007, the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB) of the DENR had already recommended to the local government units (LGUs) that appropriate warning signages be installed in landslide-prone areas especially in areas close to settlements, and in affected major roads to keep the general public on guard in the event that landslide will occur or recur.
The warning of the DENR official came after a recent geo-hazard mapping conducted by a team of experts from the MGB 11 found out that there are a total of 94 villages in Compostela Valley (ComVal) and Davao Oriental which were found to be either highly susceptible or moderately susceptible to landslide.
The region's DENR official said that based on the MGB report, out of the total 183 villages in Davao Oriental, 67 are classified to be moderately to highly susceptible to landslides.
There are also 43 villages classified as landslide-prone areas, 21 of which are identified to be highly susceptible to landslide, while 24 villages are identified to be moderately susceptible in Compostela Valley, added Sampulna.
Source: Manila Bulletin