Some 26 sitios in 17 barangays in Naga City, Cebu are either classified or rated as high to very high to landslides and flooding in a geohazard assessment and massing using a 1:10,000-scale.

The assessment is in line with the government’s efforts aimed at reducing, if not, totally mitigating, the destructive effects and impacts of natural hazards to the populace.

Of the 28 barangays in Naga City, 17 barangays or 61 percent are critically or highly landslide and flood-prone.

“Our assessment on these barangays affirmed our previous appraisal in 2009 in a scale of 1:50,000, although we now have the information on the sitios that may be most likely affected,” said MGB 7 Regional Director Loreto B. Alburo.

He added the difference between the two scales as the 1:10,000 gives out the detailed or specific data per sitio.  The other scale provides the information per barangay.

A team of senior geologists composed of Maria Elena S. Lupo and Josephine T. Aleta conducted the said four-week assessment last August and September 2011.

The geohazards threat advisories were issued to the barangay captains after the assessment in 2011 including the office of the Mayor.

The results of the investigation also showed out of 18 sitios which were classified as high risks for landslides, eight and ten sitios were rated as very critical and critical or high, respectively.

The eight sitios with barangays with very high landslide susceptibility rating are Sien, Balirong; Balico, Pangpang, and Tayad-tayad, all in Cantao-an; Badiang, Mainit; Buli, Mayana; Caporing, Patag; and Uling 3, Uling.

Moreover, the ten sitios and barangays with a rating of high to landslides are: Proper Sagrada, Alpaco; Bairan; Naga-Toledo road, Balirong; Township, and Proper, Cantao-an; Ka Lopez to Proper, Cogon; Jaguimit, Spillway, Lanas; Naalad; Tagjaguimit; Tagaytay, Tinaan; Caimito, Kakahoyan 3, and Tambis, all in Uling.

As to flooding, it showed eight sitios with high susceptibility rating and these are Cueva, Alpaco; Purok 5 and Purok 7, Bairan; Barangay Proper, Inayagan; Langtad; Proper Lutac and Upper Lutac in Lutac; Upper Mainit in Mainit; and Tapon in Tinaan.

“We strongly advise our local chief executives to take the necessary steps or measures in ensuring our communities safe and away from danger,” said DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo.

Montejo emphasized the need to develop an early warning system to be institutionalized in each barangay so that communities would be able to respond when disasters happen.