BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
CEBU CITY, March 31 (PIA) --- Phivolcs
Director Dr. Renato Solidum told over 350 participants of the two-day disaster
preparedness info campaign road show that kicked off today that immediate
actions must be taken in order to be prepared for disasters as Central Visayas
is not safe from disasters including earthquakes.
“Region 7 is prone to geologic hazards
so we must prepare now,” bared Solidum to the attendees that included mayors
and disaster managers within the four provinces of Central Visayas.
In his presentation, Solidum showed
there are faults in Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol and in the Negros Trench.
“In 2012, Negros Oriental was hit by a
6.9 magnitude quake that left 58 casualties and 62 missing.
"Then in 2013, Bohol followed suit
with a7.2 intensity quake with 222 deaths and eight missing,” said Solidum,
adding: “Which is next? Cebu? We really do not know. We just have to prepare.”
Solidum said all provinces in Central
Visayas have minor events occurring as epicenters.
“Walang ligtas sa earthquake (Nobody
is safe from earthquakes)," said the Phivolcs director.
Historical events outlined in Solidum’s
presentation revealed minor earthquake events already occurred in Cebu, Bohol
and Negros Oriental even back in the late 1800s.
But an incident he cited that terribly
shook Cebu was in January 28, 1922 where an intensity of 7.0-8.0 magnitude
quake damaged old structures while the old Recoletos Church and Convent slid
down and the roof of the Bishop’s Palace partially caved in.
“From time to time, there will be
strong earthquakes due to our geologic setting. We cannot avoid it, we just
have to prepare,” stressed Solidum.
Solidum identified four elements in
preparing and minimizing the effects of an earthquake.
These are hazards identification,
hazards assessment, risk assessment and impact/damage scenario.
“We need to have an appreciation of a
disaster imagination. The things we need to do by doing step-by-step action and
get the results,” further said Solidum.
Under the hazards identification, local
governments should know where are the potentially affected areas, who and what
will be affected in case of tremor incidents.
Second, simulate the hazards for
hazards assessment, said Solidum.
Local government units should also do
some risk assessments in terms of losses from casualties, social, physical and
damage to the economy while the fourth element is the overall impact or the
damage scenario, both internal and external, said Solidum.
Solidum also recommended for the
communities to have their house or building technically assessed and inspected
as to its safety and based on findings, make plans to have it repaired to make
it safe and fit to live in.
The two-day activity dubbed 'Iba Na Ang
Panahon Ngayon: Science for Safer Communities" is organized by the
Department of Science and Technology 7 in partnership with the Office of Civil
Defense -7 and the Department of Interior and Local Gocernments 7.
(rmn/FCR/PIA-7)