UP geologists resurvey ‘slide

GEOLOGISTS and geodetic engineers of the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP-NIGS) of Diliman, Quezon City visited barangay Mayana in Jagna for the second time to conduct a detailed geologic hazard investigation on the Mayana landslide and its vicinity on May 3 to 9.

Composed of three geologists and four geodetic engineers, the main objective of the team's resurvey is to have a better understanding of the landslide which will be useful in predicting their occurrence thereby mitigating their effects should a similar landslide occur in other parts of Southern Bohol .

UP-NIGS Associate Professor and Team Leader Dr. Sandra Catane, informed Mayor Exuperio Lloren that the survey results would scientifically help Jagna in the rehabilitation stage of Mayana.

In the presentation of the initial survey results held Tuesday at the Capt. Goyo Caseñas Hall, with Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council members and some Municipal Department Heads, Dr. Catane pressed on the importance of concerted effort between the government, the academe and the affected people in the community in times of disaster.

“The UP-NIGS which represents the academe provides the scientific research and experimentation's that will help complement to the relevant policies of the local government and the mass mobilization of the people during disasters such as the case of the Mayana landslide”, Dr. Catane explained.

She further advised not to be complacent with the present condition of the landslide, which seems to be getting discreetly silent and still. The coming of the rainy season, she said, might cause another movement thus eventually might destroy again the temporarily renovated national road.

The team likewise inspected the two hectares relocation site located at sitio Libertad and promised to assist the LGU-Jagna by sending two geo-engineers and soil experts to further study the viability of the relocation site. Composing the team included UP-NIGS geologists Dr. Sandra Catane, Ricardo Saturay Jr. and Aileen Mirasol together with UP Geodetic Engineers Ranel Padon, Julius Bangate, Louie Balicanta and the group's driver William Tamayo.

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