Landslides threaten 6 Central Mindanao towns

KORONADAL CITY — Residents of mountainous villages in six municipalities in Central Mindanao face threats of landslides and flash floods, a government geologist said.

Jaime Flores, chief geologist of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Central Mindanao, identified the six towns as T’boli and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato; Malungon, Glan and Maasim in Sarangani; and Bagumbayan in Sultan Kudarat.

The MGB tagged these municipalities as "geo-hazardous areas" because of their history of landslides and flash floods.

Flores advised residents of hinterland areas in these towns to adopt precautionary measures during such natural calamities, especially now that Central Mindanao has been experiencing heavy rainfall.

Flores urged local officials to promptly put up "rainfall gauge stations" in hinterland areas.

Authorities have turned their focus on geologically hazardous areas following the mudslide that buried the farming village of Guinsaugon in Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte last Feb. 17.

Jim Sampulna, regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), ordered the MGB to intensify its information and education campaign on geological hazards in all barangays in Central Mindanao.

"There is really a need to inform the people about the worst effects of landslides and flash floods brought about by the illegal cutting of trees in the hinterlands," he said.

Sampulna said part of the campaign is to teach the uplanders about the value of conserving trees to prevent landslides and flash floods.