A total of 155 barangays in the CARAGA Region have been identified by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) as landslide-prone areas in Region 13.

The areas include 33 barangays in Agusan del Norte, 35 in Agusan del Sur, 34 in Surigao del Norte and 53 in Surigao del Sur.

A geohazard map identifying the landslide-prone areas was submitted by MGB-13 to the Department of Interior and Local Government to assist its disaster prevention activities in the concerned areas.

Chief geologist Romeo M. Dalodado said the basis for declaring these areas as flood-prone was their being situated just below areas with slopes of 30 percent.

“This is just a preliminary finding in our investigation in these areas. But we will still conduct thorough investigations to look into the geologic structures and nature of the soil in these areas,” Dalodado said.

Dalodado also said his office has already identified a relocation area for residents of Sitio Canlabag in Barangay Capalayan, Surigao City, just across a creek located in the same sitio. About 300 residents are expected to relocate to the identified safer area.

MGB’s identification of a relocation site was prompted by persistent request for help by Sitio Canlabag residents for fear that landslide may occur in the area after they found tension cracks on the soils in the nearby slopes of mountainous areas.

Dalodado also disclosed that they had already conducted manual breaking of rocks in Barangay Togbongon after parents, teachers and students raised fear of rock slides from uphill just near the school building.

March 24, 2006