More than 1,000 barangays in Eastern Visayas susceptible to landslides, MGB says

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January 18, 2011

TACLOBAN CITY  –  About 1,017 barangays in Eastern Visayas are susceptible to landslides, according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

This is based on the MGB report after completing the Rapid Geohazards Assessment in five out of six provinces of Eastern Visayas namely, Southern Leyte, Leyte, Biliran, Easter Samar and Northern Samar.

The results showed that there are 243 barangays in 18 municipalities and 1 city in Southern Leyte; 322 barangays in 33 municipalities of the province of Leyte; 63 barangays in 8 municipalities of the province of Biliran; 105 barangays in 11 municipalities of Eastern Samar; and 264 barangays in 19 municipalities Northern Samar, making a total of 1,017 the number of barangays in Eastern Visayas, which are landslide-prone.

In Leyte, the municipalities and cities with landslide-prone barangays are Abuyog with 31; Albuera, 2; Bato, 5; Baybay City, 28; Burauen, 22; Calubian, 28; Capoocan, 7; Carigara, 2; Dagami, 4; Hilongos, 5; Hindang, 8; Inopacan, 11; Jaro, 1; Javier, 4; Kananga, 5; La Paz, 5; Leyte, 19; MacArthur, 5; Mahaplag, 11; Matalom, 5; Merida, 4; Ormoc, 15; Palompon, 12; San Isidro, 12; Sta. Fe, 2; Villaba, 14; San Miguel, 5; Isabel, 15; Palo,5; Babatngon, 11; Matag-ob, 14; Tabango, 13; and Tacloban City, 18.

In Southern Leyte, the 243 landslide prone barangays are distributed as: Maasin City, 34; Hinunangan, 8; San Juan, 3; St. Bernard, 17; Liloan, 18; San Francisco, 14; San Ricardo, 12; Pintuyan, 13; Libagon, 7; Sogod, 26; Bontoc, 21; Tomas Oppus, 16; Malitbog, 20; Padre Burgos, 6; Macrohon, 17; Limasawa, 5; Anahawan, 2; Silago, 2; and Hinundayan, 2.

In Biliran, the town of Kawayan has the most number of landslide-prone barangays with 15; Naval, 7; Almeria, 9; Culaba, 8; Cabugcayan, 8; Biliran 1 and Maripipi, 9.

The 11 municipalities in Eastern Samar with barangays which are landslide prone are Borongan, 23; Taft, 11; Can-avid, 9; Dolores, 4; Policapo,8; Oras, 10; Salcedo, 4; Mercedes, 11; San Julian, 10; Guiuan, 6 and Sulat, 10.

Meanwhile, for the province of Northern Samar, the municipalities with flood-prone barangays are Pambujan, 8; Mondragon, 16; Catarman, 29; Lavezares, 19; Biri, 6; Allen, 12; San Antonio, 8; Rosario, 8; Bobon, 8; San Jose de Buan, 9; San Isidro, 12; San Roque, 14; Lapinig, 14; Palapag, 19; Gamay, 10;Mapanas, 6; Capul, 12; Victoria, 14; and Catubig, 40.

As an offshoot of the Guinsaugon landslide, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on February 22, 2006, directed the MGB to immediately conduct Rapid Geohazards Assessment in Leyte and Biliran islands and to issue appropriate warnings and recommendations to the local government units. High priority was placed on these provinces because of the recurrent occurrences of landslides in these areas.

Through the project, the Mines and Geoscience Bureau aims to generate information on the susceptibility to geohazards of every barangay and make information available to concerned local government units and agencies responsible for land use planning and development, disaster management and mitigation.

The objective of the project is to conduct assessment of barangays that are located at the foot of slopes, mid-slopes and mountain ranges and to identify and assess proposed and existing school and housing relocation sites.

The project also hoped to provide the much needed geologic data to development planners and disaster management experts so that consideration of the geologic factors can be made during the critical decision making stage; and to provide the necessary information and training to the concerned local officials and populace so that they can take appropriate actions during geohazards events.

The same assessment was also conducted in Eastern Samar after completing the first batch in Leyte and Biliran islands.