Know Quezon City’s danger zones

The Quezon City government is working on a comprehensive hazard map that will show areas at risk for earthquakes, fires, floods and other disasters.

Elmo San Diego, Department of Public Order and Safety chief, said that the map would be based on existing ones made by national government agencies although it would be tailor-fit for residents living in high-risk areas in Quezon City.

He added that the map—part of the city government’s disaster risk reduction measures—would be distributed to barangay (village) leaders.

The guide map will show areas prone to fires, floods and earthquakes, in particular, since the West Valley Fault System runs through a portion of the city.

San Diego said that with the guide, residents would be able to respond faster should there be a disaster, for example, move to higher ground at the first sign of rising floodwaters.

Asked which specific parts of the city were at risk, San Diego pointed to barangays (villages) that lie near the fault system like Bagong Silangan and Batasan, among others, the exclusive areas of Blue Ridge and White Plains, Libis and Barangay Escopa.

San Diego told the Inquirer that this was also the reason why then President Manuel Quezon’s plans for the city did not include building houses in the Katipunan area.

“It was not supposed to be a residential area but it was developed in later years,” he said.

Communities near La Mesa Dam and waterways like Tullahan River and Marikina River are also prone to flooding, San Diego added.

Also at risk of flooding is Barangay Bagong Silangan where nearly 100 people died when flash floods inundated the area at the height of Tropical Storm “Ondoy” in 2009.

The same goes for low-lying areas like Barangays Tatalon, Sto. Domingo, Roxas District and Pagasa.