23% of Western Visayas high landslide susceptible
Office of Civil Defense VI Director Rosario Cabrera said that as per record, about 23.49 percent of Region VI are classified with high landslide susceptibility.
The region's landslide susceptibility map shows that non to very low susceptibility areas cover about 39.12 Percent, while medium susceptibility areas cover about 28.32 percent.
Director Cabrera said that the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) has been relentlessly pursuing its Four Point Action Plan for Disaster Preparedness in the face of expected calamities like landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis and the like.
This four-point action plan includes 1) upgrading PAGASA and PHIVOLCS forecasting capability; 2) public information campaign on disaster preparedness; 3) capacity building for LGUs in identified vulnerable areas; 4) mechanisms for government and private sector partnership in relief and rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, the country last updated its landslide susceptibility map in 2004 with a 1 is to 250,000 scale, a general view of the hazard occurrence and risk potential of landslide in the Philippines.
In 2004, there were 115 maps with a scale of 1 is to 50,000 and 108 maps in 2005.
A geological hazard map is used in mapping out land zoning programs. The map is also important in issuing permits for development projects, building permits and disaster preparedness of local government units.
The DENR Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) points to four factors that are considered in identifying high, moderate and low susceptible places to landslides.
Places that are susceptible to landslides are areas with an 18-degree slope or higher. Faults and tributaries are also other factors and a highly dense population can also contribute to landslides, the MGB said.
(PIA 6/ESS)