Ordinance to identify landslide prone/tree planting areas

October 11, 2020 Metro BLISTT

Baguio City October 9, 2020 -Landslide prone areas feasible for tree planting shall be identified through a city council-crafted ordinance and approved by Mayor Benjamin Magalong last week.
In a study by the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau-Department of Environment and Natural Resources (MGBDENR-CAR), nearly 6 square kilometers of the mapped area which is 30%of the city is high landslide susceptible and critical, 17.6 sq km is high landslide susceptible and 5.6 sq km are moderate landslide susceptible.
A small area, 0.63 sq km of the studied portion is stable with no identified landslide. Landslide prone areas have elevation from900 to 1,600 meters, have gentle to moderate steep slopes of less than 30%, and steep slopes of greater than 30%.
According to the MGBDENR the city is a geo-hazard prone area where earthquake or rainfall induced landslides or erosions are common occurrences.
The city is also within a Faultline with unstable slopes; and is visited by more than 20 typhoons annually usually those with long and heavy rains. Said soil movement cause destruction of lives, properties and infrastructure.
Ordinance 129, series of 2020 thus considered identified said areas for tree-planting to help control landslides, and at the same time mitigate climate change.
Different offices were tapped to assist in implementing the ordinance: the City Engineering Office (CEO) to identify areas for tree-planting and recommend similar and supportive projects; the City Environment and Parks Management Office to recommend tree species for planting and assist in the survival of said species.
To ensure the safety of Baguio citizens and that said no building are erected on landslide-prone and susceptible areas, the City Planning and Development Office shall consider these to be retained as public land and city-owned. The City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), for its part, coordinates with the mentioned offices with programs to further the newly crafted ordinance.
Funds needed for the program shall also be appropriated, the ordinance states.
Julie G. Fianza/ABN