There is no truth to allegations that Bohol will sink if the aftershocks will reach more than 6,000 as circulated thru text messages. However, part of Bohol, including Tagbilaran City, moved 55 centimeters toward Cebu. This was disclosed by Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Dir. Renato Solidum Jr. during the Public Forum on Disasters, Climate Change and Marine Biodiversity held yesterday at JJ's Seafood Village in Tagbilaran City. “Actually, the reason why Bohol is around is because of earthquakes and the faults that move vertically. Why? Because limestones are made up of corals and limestones cover a big part of Bohol,” Solidum explained.

Solidum said the phenomenon was caused by the October 15 earthquake, but does not pose a risk to Bohol or Cebu. However, he urged Bohol leaders and residents to be better prepared. “Build back better,” Solidum urged Boholanos. Phivolcs recommends a distance of at least 5 meters on both sides of the active fault and avoid construction of any structure on top of an active fault trace to avoid ground rupture hazard. During the forum, Solidum said that it is not the earthquake itself that kills but the falling debris and landslides.

The Phivolcs chief pointed out that design and construction are important factors to consider if a structure can withstand an earthquake of the same magnitude as the one on October 15. Phivolcs also clarified that the liquid that came out in a ground from Loon after the earthquake was a manifestation of liquefaction. Instead of worrying that Bohol island will sink, Phivolcs said the people should take note on the upliftment of the ground as what happens in Maribojoc. He said that while it is unlikely for the North Bohol Fault, the October 15 earthquake generator to cause another tremor of the same energy within the lifetime of the present generation, this should not be a reason to be complacent as there are other faults and volcanoes in other parts of the country that will generate earthquakes. Several houses, churches, schools, bridges and other public infrastructure in the northern part of Bohol were damaged or destroyed when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake shook the province last October 15. (PIA7-Bohol/ECB)