Gozun made the appeal in view of the on-set of the season that might cause landslides in some of the unstable areas in the Diwalwal gold-rush site.

“We would like to prevent another accident from happening so we strongly appeal to the local government officials to initiate a systematic relocation of houses and public infrastructure to safer areas at the soonest possible time,” Gozun stressed.

Gozun also added that an efficient and cost-effective disaster awareness program should immediately be implemented to forestall impending disasters in the area.

The DENR-MGB’s geohazard assessment study conducted in Mt. Diwata (Diwalwal) in Monkayo, Compostela, Valley identified susceptible zones classified into low, moderate or high degree of hazard susceptibility.

Highly susceptible zones are areas that have slopes with active mass movements, with a highly unstable zone and currently affected by major landslides or in danger of such movem! ents spreading. Moderately susceptible zones, on the other hand, have slopes with inactive landslides but there is some uncertainty on the stability of the terrain. While those with low degree of susceptibility are relatively stable zones.

The report noted that the present unstable to critical condition of some portions of the Diwalwal study area is primarily due to the generally poor ground conditions and unrestrained and unsystematic human intervention, mainly logging and mining.

Members of the team who conducted the study have identified the Mabatas area, which is a flatland located southwest of the Diwalwal built-up areas, as potential relocation site.

“The proposed resettlement site in Mabatas is relatively stable, however, land-use planning and zoning should be implemented to guide future human activities in the area,” said MGB Director Horacio Ramos.

The risk zonation map prepared in the study can be utilized to prioritize areas and sites whe! re immediate attention should be focused. Future development plans for the Diwalwal area should be based on the data and information generated in the present study.

The DENR has already provided local government officials with copies of the report since October last year for them to seriously address the situation in the area through zoning ordinances and relocation plans. Secretary Gozun likewise ordered the MGB and the Natural Resources Development Corp. (NRDC), DENR’s implementing arm in the management of the Diwalwal Mineral Reservation, to provide technical assistance to the LGUs.