With the potential heavy and incessant rains that come along with Typhoon “Domeng”, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 has recently urged local government officials to undertake the necessary preemptive evacuation efforts particularly in low-lying and landslide-prone areas in Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

MGB 7 Regional Director Loreto B. Alburo made the appeal following a warning from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) that heavy rains could dump as “Domeng” has already entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

According to the 24-hour public weather forecast issued by PAGASA, at 4:00 a.m. today, ‘Domeng” was estimated based on all available data at 620 km East of Davao City (6.8°N 131.6°E) with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near center. It is forecast to move west northwest at 5 kph.

The weather disturbance entered the PAR at around 7:30 p.m. last Sunday, moving west-northwest slowly at 13 kph.

Alburo said active preparation is still the key to ensure a ‘zero’ casualty as we campaign for the continued safety of the communities including their pieces of property.

“It is very important that mayors and barangay captains should give more attention of areas that are found to be highly susceptible to flooding and landslides which have been known to them as indicated in the geohazards threat advisory,” Alburo stressed.

He also urged local chief executives to appreciate the geohazard maps, and implement the necessary measures or interventions to lessen the impacts of landslides and flooding within their areas of responsibility.

He warned that the volume of water brought by “Domeng” might trigger soil conditions that have been either saturated by rains or loosened by trees uprooted by “Yolanda”, thereby causing landslides.

Meanwhile, in Cebu City, 19 barangays are highly susceptible landslides, namely, Lusaran, Binaliw, Guba, Budlaan, Malubog, Buot-Taup, Busay, Sirao, Taptap, Tagbao, Tabunan, Pung-ol Sibugay,Sudlon II, Sudlon I, Sinsin, Buhisan, Pamutan, Sapangdaku, and Adlaon.

Barangays Tagjaguimit, Alpaco, Balirong, Mayana, Naalad, and Cogon in City of Naga.; 11 barangays in Balamban: Hingatmonan, Lamesa, Luca, Ginatilan, Cabasiangan, Matun-og, Cansomoroy, Gaas, Magsaysay, Cabagdalan, and Duangan.

Five barangays in Toledo City: Tungkay, Pangamihan, Bagacay, Loay and Don Andres Soriano; Lamac in Pinamungahan; Five barangays in Asturias:Agbanga, Baye, Bairan, Kanluangan and Sak-sak.

All mountain barangays in Talisay City; Brgy. Doldol, Purok 3 in Dumanjug; and Cansalonoy in Ronda.

In Bohol, those portions of those areas which have been affected by the quake are advised to take the necessary precautions and to implement proactive evacuation are: Tagbilaran City, Baclayon, Corella, Cortes, Alburquerque, Panglao, Dauis, Loon, Calape, Catigbian, Balilihan, Batuan, Sagbayan, and Carmen.

Alburo said the assessment reveals that there are five barangays in Cebu City that are considered to be most hazardous to flooding and these are Kasambagan, Kinasang-an, Labangon, Mabolo, Bonbon, and Cebu City downtown areas and along the Guadalupe River; and seven barangays in Mandaue City to include Subangdaku, Mantuyong, Umapad, Opao, Alang-alang, Guizo, and Pakna-an.

In Negros Oriental, five barangays in Guihulngan City, namely, Humayhumay, Imelda, Mabunga, Sandayao, and Tacpao have high susceptibility to landslides.  There are 12 barangays with moderate to high susceptibility to landslide and these are Bakid, Banwaque, Calamba, Calupa-an, Linantuyan, Mabunga, Maniak, Plagatasanon, Planas, Trinidad,Binobohan, and Villegas.

In La Libertad, nine barangays with high landslide susceptibility are Aniniaw, Aya, Biga-a, Guihob, Kansumandig, Mambutod, Managondong, Pangca, and Pitogo.  Barangay Mandapaton has moderate to high susceptibility to landslide.  Eleven barangays with moderate susceptibility to landslide are Manluminsag, Busilak, Cantopa, Elecia (Talostos), Eli, Manghulyawon, Martilo, Nasungon, San Jose, Solongon, and Tala-on.

Around nine barangays in Bayawan City, namely Banga, Maninihon, Poblacion, Villareal, Nangka, Suba, Ubos, Pagatban and Kalumbuyan are flood-prone areas.

Also in Siaton, barangays Poblacion II, Poblacion III, Poblacion IV, and San Jose were flood-prone areas; and barangays Calicugan, Maloh, Cabangahan, Giliga-on, Bonawan and Apoloy area landslides-prone areas.

In Basay, the flood-prone areas are barangays near Tyabanan, Pagatban, and Basay river.

A total of eight barangays in Dumaguete City are flood-prone areas, namely, Candau-ay, Cadawinonan, Tabuctubig, Batinguel, Poblacion, Junob, Poblacion 2, and Bagakay.

In Siquijor, six barangays have been assessed to be highly susceptible to landslides and flooding and these are Libo in Enrique Villanueva; Bintangan, and Helen, in Larena; and Cang-isad, Luyang, and Sabang, in Siquijor.