MGB to pier residents: Pack up, go to safer places

MARIBOJOC, BOHOL, Philippines - — More than a hundred families residing at the pier of this town have probably no choice but to pack up and evacuate to higher grounds for their safety.

In its Subsidence Threat Advisory dated last Nov. 28, the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB) has highly recommended to the officials of this town, led by Mayor Leoncio Evasco, for the relocation of the residents living at the pier after the Oct. 15 earthquake.

Based on the post-earthquake ocular geo-hazard assessment of the pier site, the Cebrian GeoKonsult and Services also reported: "The pier site and vicinity sunk a little bit so as the usual seabed is currently below its original level. In the Phivolcs map of liquefaction prone areas in Bohol, the shoreline segment and vicinities of Maribojoc town is liquefaction town."

The private agency that conducted the assessment also strongly recommended that "no residential, commercial buildings or offices shall be allowed in the area without proper permission from the concerned LGU for safety reasons."

The Cebrian report, signed by senior geologist James Leones and noted by chief geologist Claro Cebrian, was given to Evasco who requested for the conduct of the assessment.

The report indicated that the concrete edges of road gutters and on concrete road side walk expansion joints bore cracks and subsidence. "Other areas in the exposed seabed in the town that many sinkholes were reported to have been located," it added.

Four areas have been identified by the MGB to have been badly affected by the earthquake, which also caused the sinkholes. These are Barangay Poblacion (particularly sitio San Juan where the pier is located including the collapse old church), Santa Cruz Elementary School area, Purok 1 (along national road of Barangay Guiwanon), and residential areas along national road of Barangay Anislag near the bridge, the report said.

The MGB advisory, included among others: Observe and/or monitor tension cracks and report the situation; develop an early warning system, like signages or barrier; constant communication and updates with barangay/municipal officials on geohazard situation; observe the areas for a period of six months to a year; and extra vigilance during heavy rainfall because of typhoons or monsoons and during aftershocks.

Some residents in the pier area have started to make repairs of whatever they can to rebuild their fallen houses, while others had make-shift shelters in Tiwi and other evacuation centers at the Central Elementary School. Many of them however were resistant to the plan to evacuate them to relocation site.

Evasco, in his short talk before the first dawn mass said his administration could not do otherwise except to heed the recommendation of the authorities for the residents' safety in the long term. He said that his administration is looking for the site that is conducive for a relocation of the residents. (FREEMAN)