Region 6 LGU officials told: Use geo-hazard maps

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  — The Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Region 6 urged local government officials to use their respective geo-hazard maps, provided them in 2009, to guide their preemptive actions on flooding and landslides.

The information provided in the geo-hazard maps shows the level of susceptibility of an area to flooding and landslides, therefore they should be used by the local government officials, MGB-6 regional director Leo Van Juguan said.

Juguan said LGUs should immediately relocate communities that are most vulnerable to these hazards, adding that MGB-6 has already completed the detailed geo-hazard assessment of towns in Western Visayas.

The towns identified as moderately to highly susceptible to landslides are Miag-ao, Tubungan, Leon, Alimodian, Lambunao, San Joaquin and Igbaras in Iloilo, and Tapas town in Capiz province.

Of these eight towns, Leon has the most barangays, numbering 69, that are highly susceptible to landslide, said Juguan.

He added that, aside from the safety of residents, local officials should also consider the livelihood of residents by making sure that they would still have sources of income in their relocation sites. (FREEMAN)