GEOHAZARD MAP. The detailed flood and landslide hazard map in Central Visayas. MGB-7 regional director Armando Malicse on Thursday (Oct. 15, 2020) urged Central Visayas residents to follow orders of evacuation issued by their city or municipal government, to prevent loss of lives amid the La Niña phenomenon. (Photo courtesy of MGB-7)
CEBU CITY – Residents in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas in Central Visayas should listen and follow any evacuation order that would be issued by their local government units (LGU) to prevent loss of lives amid the La Niña phenomenon, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Region 7 (MGB-7) said on Thursday.
MGB-7 regional director Armando Malicse said governors and mayors in Central Visayas have been furnished with copies of the geohazard maps in the four provinces – Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor – showing the flood and landslide-prone areas.
LGUs can check the list of risky areas in their localities through the MGB geohazard maps that provide a 1:10,000 Scale Geohazard Mapping and Assessment to each of the four provinces.
“The geohazard maps are also available in the internet. The maps are a concrete reminder of our LGUs to take precautionary measures and actions to mitigate the negative effect of heavy rains, floods and landslides,” Malicse told the Philippine News Agency.
He said the city or municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices are more empowered to take actions during calamities, as the MGB in the region lacks manpower to undertake such precautionary measures for the LGUs.
The agency, he said, trusted the competence of local chief executives in outlining plans and actions that would mitigate the impact of force majeure to their constituents.
In a statement, Malicse said LGU officials can initiate preparedness measures for potential floods and landslides in areas identified to have moderate, high and very high risks of incidences.
He encouraged the relocation of residents living near riverbanks, coastlines and foot of steep slopes as a pre-emptive measure to avoid casualties.
“In the last few weeks, we saw incessant rains in Cebu and other province in the region. We can expect more rains towards the end of the year and so we have to be ready,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Edgardo Labella ordered the evacuation of residents living in danger zones.
He also ordered the Department of Engineering and Public Works to clean up the waterways to prevent flooding.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration issued in September an advisory of a 70-percent probability of La Niña occurrence in the coming months based on its recent climate monitoring and analyses.
Tropical cyclones are expected to occur, bringing above normal rainfall especially in eastern Philippines.
“We are now in the La Niña season. Let us all be careful, be alert when the rain comes and follow the government’s announcements so we can achieve zero casualties this year,” Malicse said. (PNA)
