ZAMBOANGA CITY, April 7 (PIA) – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) regional office 9 urges local government units to heed their recommendations, including utilizing their Geohazard maps to cushion possible severe effects of floodings should they occur in the localities.
As per MGB report on April 1, scattered rains caused the overflowing of Sibuguey River resulting to the severe flooding of several barangays in Imelda municipality the most. These barangays include Balugo, Gandiangan, La Victoria, Lumpanac, Lumbog, San Jose and Sta. Barbara. The office added that the heavy rainfall was also felt by the neighboring municipalities including Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay and Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur. As a result, residents were evacuated while infrastructure and roads were submerged.
In its statement, the MGB pointed out that the impact of such severe flooding could have been minimized and prevented since “it was not a surprise”. The MGB in 2011 issued the Geohazard Matrix during the geohazard assessments where the said affected barangays were categorized to fall within the moderate to high flood susceptibility.
The MGB recommends for the following: “observe proper legal easement along active bodies of water specifically along the flood plains of Sibuguey River, and if possible, relocate existing houses that are vulnerable and much likely to be affected by such hazards; Develop an early warning system such as installation of Flood Hazard Warning Signage on critical areas and installation or improvement of engineering mitigating measures for flood along Sibuguey River; Utilization and integration of the 1:10,000 scale Geohazard Map in the future land development within the municipality especially along the floodplains of Sibuguey River; Constant communication and provide updates to barangay officials and the Imelda Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) on geohazard situations in the aforesaid barangays; The Local Government Unit of Imelda especially of the affected barangays through its respective Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BDRRMC) should come up with or enhance its respective Disaster Preparedness and Contingency Plan/Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan for the floodplains of Sibuguey River; and observe the rapid increase/decrease of Sibuguey River’s water level. (RVC/EDT/DIS/PIA9-Zamboanga City, with reports from MGB-9, photo courtesy MGB-9)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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