Tacloban ‘highly prone’ to storm surges – DENR exec

A general shot shows houses destroyed by the strong winds caused by typhoon Haiyan at Tacloban, eastern island of Leyte on November 9, 2013. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Many areas in Tacloban City are “highly prone” to storm surges, earthquakes, landslide and flooding, said Mines and Geosciences’ Bureau Director Leo Jasareno Monday.

Jasareno said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will issue a “No Build Zone” in Tacloban City after conducting a ground survey.

“We already have a geo-hazard map in Tacloban. We only need to identify the “No Build Zone” areas that are highly vulnerable to landslides and flooding,” he said.

Jasareno said residents, who will be affected by the program, will be given relocation and proper compensation plan.

“They will be given safe relocation sites. The government’s goal for now is to remove our residents from danger,” he said.

Areas that will be declared as “No Build Zones,” Jasareno said, will be transformed into ecotourism sites.

He said they will be sending this Monday their geologists in the city to conduct a multi-hazard mapping.

“Multi hazard mapping on storm surge hazards, earthquake faults, landslides and flood prone areas is a joint study by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs),” Jasareno said.

The multi-hazard mapping is expected to be finished after a week and will also be done in other parts of Visayas ripped by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan).