Antique inaugurates new Seismic Station
SAN JOSE, Antique – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) inaugurated the new seismic station in the Province of Antique on Thursday.
Governor Salvacion Z. Perez during the inauguration program commended the people behind the establishment of the seismic station in Binirayan Hills, San Jose, Antique. “This project will help save the lives of Antiqueños,” she said.
Dr. Ma. Leonila P. Bautista, Associate Scientist of Phivolcs said that preparedness for the hazards that might be caused by earthquakes and other related phenomena need partnership of communities, local government units, private sector and agencies of government. What is happening in Antique is an example of such partnership, Bautista commented.
Phivolcs has its seismic station in the Municipality of Anini-y in 1994 to 2009 located in the compound of Sira-an Hot Spring. However, the Municipality of Anini-y requested that the building where they hold office be used for its purpose as tourist destination, thus they transferred to Binirayan Hills in San Jose, Antique.
It has been noted that, Antique is one of the best locations of seismic station for monitoring of earthquake occurrences in and around the province and for both local and distance earthquakes, thus the provincial government donated a 600sq.m lot in Binirayan Hills San Jose for Phivolcs station.
The seismic station is equipped with instruments that monitor earthquake occurrences and information materials on volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunami occurrences and other related hazards.
The station now caters to public queries and educational field trips and shall serve as local information center in Antique and neighboring provinces specifically about earthquakes, volcanoes and other related works of Phivolcs.
The operation for seismic monitoring will commence soon.
Furthermore, Phivolcs is a service institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that is principally mandated to mitigate disasters that may arise from volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunami and other related geotectonic phenomena. It also envisions in developing well-prepared communities safe from volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other related hazards. (PIA/psm)
