MANY years passing, I recall a television interview with the late Phivolcs (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) Director Raymundo Punongbayan on PTV-4. One question was on the Marikina Valley Fault Line (MVFL) and where this traversed. Presenting a miniscule cartography pointing the direction of the fault before the cameras required a follow-up. I asked, “What specific areas is the MVFL located, so the public may know?”. Punongbayan in his spectacles and bashful smile retorted, “Huwag na lang, at baka magalit ang mga land developers sa akin. Tingnan niyo na lang ang aming website”.
The recent Surigao Norte earthquake hit on Valentine’s Day. Added tally on the vulnerability of private and public infrastructures, the “readiness” of local and national agencies for emergency response and aftermath scenarios, etc.
grim lessons will be repeated in other parts of the country. Awareness and preparedness lacking.
The six-floor Ruby Tower collapse in Binondo Manila (1968) is one of the country’s deadliest tragedy – 270 buried alive (some un-identified), 261 injured despite 6,000 volunteers helping. Picturesque Baguio hit by a 45 second 7.8 Magnitude earth quake in (1990). Estimated thousand plus lives trapped and killed with 28 buildings collapsing.
Water, electricity, communication lines down, 120,000 slept outdoors. Loakan airport open only to helicopters etc.
The earthquakes in Negros (2012) and Bohol (2013) a model of other disasters, with heritage churches turned to rubble, landslides, bridges falling etc. Region 7 DRRMC Office warns, “Cebu province is ripe for an earthquake”. What to do with several condo buildings rising there? For Metro Manila, experts admonished, “MM is due for a big one”. A 2004 JICA study on an earthquake impact presents a bleak scenario: 34,000 deaths, 114,000 injuries, and 18,000 additional fatalities from many simultaneous fires erupting from many buildings. The 100Km West Valley Fault will affect 57 Residential Villages. Are we prepared for D-day and after? (Erik Espina)