Iloilo City – Regional Director Leo Van V. Juguan, CESO V of the DENR, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office 6 (MGB RO 6) reiterates its warning on the possible occurrence of rain-induced landslides and flooding during the rainy season and when there are typhoons hitting the region. As the national and local government is mandated to strength resilience capacities of communities when faced with nature-triggered disasters, it is timely to once again remind our local government units to be guided by the geohazard maps where areas most vulnerable to landslides and floods are identified, said RD Juguan.
DENR MGB RO 6 has identified in each province of Region 6 the ten most vulnerable municipalities to landslides and flood based on the geohazard assessment and mapping. The cities or municipalities which are most vulnerable to landslides are: Libacao, Madalag, Malinao, Ibajay, Tangalan, Nabas, Malay, Buruanga, Balete, and Makato in Aklan; Valderrama, Laua-an, Barbaza, San Remigio, Patnongon, Bugasong, Tibiao, Culasi, Sebaste, and Pandan in Antique; Tapaz, Jamindan, Maayon, Pres. Roxas, Pilar, Dumarao, Ivisan, Roxas City, Dumalag, and Pontevedra in Capiz; Jordan, San Lorenzo, Buenavista, Sibunag, and Nueva Valencia in Guimaras; and Leon, Tubungan, Igbaras, Miag-ao, San Joaquin, Maasin, Janiuay, Calinog, Lambunao, and Alimodian in Iloilo.
In terms of flooding, these are the cities or municipalities which are most vulnerable: Kalibo, Numancia, New Washington, Malinao, Banga, Lezo, Madalag, Libacao, Altavas, and Balete in Aklan; Barbaza, Sibalom, San Remigio, Valderrama, Patnongon, Laua-an, Bugasong, San Jose, Tibiao, and Culasi in Antique; Dao, Mambusao, Sigma, Sapi-an, Panit-an, Cuartero, Dumalag, Pan-ay, Pontevedra, and Roxas City in Capiz; Sibunag, Nueva Valencia, Buenavista, San Lorenzo, and Jordan in Guimaras and Zarraga, Pavia, Dumangas, Leganes, Barotac Nuevo, Pototan, Dingle, San Enrique, Passi City, and Calinog in Iloilo.
This does not mean that other municipalities or cities which are not listed as most vulnerable will least likely experience the occurrence of landslides and flooding, explained Ms. Mae Magarzo, Chief of the Geosciences Division. For as long as there are areas in the municipality which are vulnerable to geohazards, these will unpredictably occur given the factors especially prolonged rains.
We remind the LGUs to take precautionary measures as landslides and flooding may occur with the onset of the rainy season and typhoons, RD Juguan said.