Algeria’s killer jolt moves officials to assess geo-hazards in Baguio City

BAGUIO CITY — The killer jolt in Algeria causing the death of at least 2200 people moved officials here to raise warnings anew about the existing geological hazards in the city and the whole Cordillera.

This as the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources also warned the public residing in such areas to relocate into safer grounds as the rainy season ahead draws near.

Neoman de la Cruz, chief of the MGB-Cordillera Administrative Region lamented that the local government units and the agency are having difficulties in urging residents to relocate, citing problems on relocation sites and lack of funds.

Earlier, De la Cruz also scored town officials on the lack of political will in enforcing warnings and relocation options as warned by the MGB.

At least six earthquake faults are being observed by PHIVOLCS in the Cordillera that crisscross portions of the region’s six provinces — Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Benguet, and Mt. Province.

The MGB is eyeing at least six barangays in Baguio as geo-hazards including Crystal Cave, Dominican-Mirador Hill, portion of Asin Road, Naguilan Road, Marcos Highway and the whole stretch of the historic Kennon Road, the main artery to Manila.

The July 16, 1990 killer earthquake sent Baguio City and its environs on its knees when at least 2,000 people died and high-rise buildings and houses into rubbles.

The World Bank ranks Baguio after the earthquake as one of the seven most disaster prone cities in the world.

Baguio, which has become Northern Luzon’s business, tourism and educational center, was designed by American architect Daniel Burnham to sustain about 25,000 people but its present population is pegged at almost 300,000.

Its daytime population reaches 450,000 and almost one million during special events like the crowd-drawing Baguio Flower Festival or Panagbenga.

Moreover the MGB-CAR is requires an engineering geological and Geohazard Assessment (EGGA) before any infrastructure project can approved.

The City government of Baguio also has embarked on more than P40-million for the rehabilitation of the main drainage tunnel within the central business district.

MGB has also released its study on geo-hazards in the Cordillera to all the municipal and provincial planning development offices and strongly recommended that the geo-hazards study be incorporated in their land use and zoning plans of each town. "The objective of the geo-hazard study is for the LGUs to be properly informed about the potential disasters during rainy seasons or typhoons," De la Cruz said.