Regional director Leo Van Juguan of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau yesterday briefed local executives of Negros Occidental on a geohazard map of the province to ensure that they will have disaster management and mitigation programs in place to reduce loss of lives and properties to natural disasters.

Juguan, who was one of the speakers at a “Local Chief Executives Forum on Geohazards” organized by the Office of Civil Defense at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, said there are 557 barangays in Negros Occidental that are flood-prone, and 82 that are landslide-prone.

Of the 662 barangays in the 32 towns and cities in Negros Occidental, 557 have been identified as flood prone, or with reported flooding incidents.

The areas and the number of barangays prone to floods are Bacolod City – 51, Kabankalan City – 31, Victorias City -24, Calatrava – 27, Isabela -25, Talisay City - 24, Bago City - 23, Hinigaran -23, Sagay City - 23, E.B. Magalona - 22, Pulupandan - 20, Cadiz City -18, Escalante City -17;

Binalbagan -16, Himamaylan City - 16, Pontevedra - 16, Valladolid -16, Cauayan -15, Moises Padilla – 15, Silay City – 15, Sipalay City - 15, San Carlos – 13, Hinobaan - 12, La Castellana – 12 La Carlota -12 , Manapla – 12, Murcia – 10, San Enrique – 10, Toboso – 9, Candoni- 8 and Don Salvador Benedicto – 7.

The MGB also classified 23 barangays in Negros Occidental with a high possibility of landslides, 53 with moderate possibility, and 106 with low possibility.

The barangays with a high possibility of landslides are in La Castellana - 4, Calatrava – 3, Don Salvador Benedicto – 3, Isabela - 2, Pontevedra – 2, Cadiz City – 2, Murcia – 2, Cauayan – 1, San Carlos City – 1, Kabankalan City – 1, Candoni – 1 and Silay City – 1.

Those with moderate possibility are in La Castellana -1, Calatrava – 18, Don Salvador Benedicto – 4, Isabela – 6, Pontevedra – 1, Cauayan – 6, San Carlos City – 3, Kabankalan City – 2, Candoni – 1, Silay City – 1, EB Magalona – 1, Toboso – 3, La Carlota City – 2, Escalante City -1, Ilog – 1, Hinobaan – 1, and Binalbagan – 1.

The barangays classified with a low landslide possibility are in La Castellana – 6, Calatrava – 11, Isabela - 3, Pontevedra – 4, Cadiz City – 2, Murcia - 1, Cauayan – 7, San Carlos City – 2, Kabankalan City – 1, Candoni – 7, Toboso – 4, La Carlota City – 1, Escalante City – 5, Ilog – 3, Hinobaan – 2, Sagay City – 12, Sipalay City – 10, Victorias City- 6, Moises Padilla – 5, Bacolod City - 4, Talisay City – 4, Hinigaran – 3, Manapla – 2, and Himamaylan City – 1.

OCD Regional Director Rozario Cabrera said the forum was held to heighten awareness of local chief executives of geohazards in their areas so they can take measures to reduce risks.

She said Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010 provides that disaster risk reduction and management be a national and local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation, Cabrera said.

“It is high time that all of us increase our vigilance in ensuring that disaster risks are prevented or minimized, and that we are prepared to address the needs of the affected population when disasters occur,” she said.

In his speech read by Ma. Aleta Nunez, chief of the Provincial Environment Management Office, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the Philippines ranks third in the list of countries most vulnerable to climate change based on a study commissioned by the United Nations.

This comes as no surprise with our country situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, with an average of 20 typhoons yearly, exacerbated by a huge population below the poverty level who have no or minimal capacity to respond to these disasters, she said.

That, she said, is why it is important for local governments, with assistance from national agencies, to step up disaster risk reduction and management measures.*CPG

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