Disaster Risk Management

Information Sheet

Region XII

What is Disaster Risk Management?

Disaster risk management (DRM) is a systematic process of using administrative decisions, organization, operational skills and capacities to implement policies, strategies and coping capacities of the society or individuals to lessen the impacts of natural and related environment and technological hazards.

DRM comprises all forms of activities, including structural and non-structural measures to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) adverse effects of hazards.”

Understanding Disaster Risk

• Hazard is a potentially damaging physical event, phenomenon or human activity, which may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation. It can include latent conditions that may represent future threats and can have different origins; natural (geological, hydrometeorological and biological) and/or induced by human processes (environmental degradation and technological hazards).

• Vulnerability is a set of conditions and processes resulting from physical, social, economical and environmental factors, which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of hazards.

• Risk is the probability of harmful consequences, or expected loss (of lives, people, injured, livelihoods, economic activity disrupted or environment damaged) resulting from interactions between natural or human induced HAZARDS and VULNERABLE/capable conditions.

• Earthquake, flooding, landslide, volcanic eruption and tsunami are geological processes in the formation of earth. They become HAZARDS when lives, properties, growth of economy are at RISK.

• The RISK is HIGH when human activity, property, and growth of economy is incompatible with the HAZARDS or ignores its presence in a given time and place.

• Disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community/society to cope using its own resources.

• Preparedness and quick response are the most critical elements in natural disaster and management.

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Hazard Classification

1. Natural Hazards are natural processes or phenomena occurring in the biosphere that may constitute a damaging event. It can be classified by origin: geological, hydrometeorological and biological.

Geographical - are natural earth processes or phenomena in the biosphere, which include geological, neotectonic, geophysical, geomorphological, geotechnical and hydrogeological nature. Examples: earthquakes, tsunamis; volcanic activity and emissions; Mass movements i.e. landslides, rockslides, rockfall, liquefaction, submarine slides; subsidence, surface collapse, geological fault activity.

Hydrometeorological hazards are natural processes or phenomena of atmospheric, hydrological or oceanographic nature. Examples: floods, debris and mud flows; tropical cyclone, storm surge, thunder/hailstorms, rain and wind storms, blizzards and other severe storms; drought, desertification, wild land fires, heat waves, sand or dust storms; permafrost, snow avalanches

Biological hazards are processes of organic or those conveyed by biological vectors, including exposure to pathogenic micro-organism, toxins and bioactive substances. Examples: outbreak of epidemics diseases, plant or animal contagion and extensive infestations.

2. Technological Hazards (Anthropogenic Hazards) – are danger originating from technological or industrial accidents, dangerous procedures, infrastructure failures or certain human activities, which may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation

Examples Industrial pollution, nuclear activities and radioactivitiy Toxic wastes, dam failures, transport, industrial or technological accidents

(explosions, fires, spills)

3. Environmental Degradation processes induced by human behavior and activities (sometimes combined with natural hazards) that damage the natural resource base or adversely alter natural processes or ecosystems.

Examples Land degradation, deforestation, desertification, wildland fires, loss of

biodiversity Land, water and air pollution, climate change, sea level rise, ozone depletion

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Geological Hazards Affecting Region XII

In Region XII, occurrences of flood, landslide, earthquake, tsunami and volcanic eruption, ground failure/land subsidence and erosion have been recorded. The areas prone to these hazards are as identified below.

1. Flood

Flooding is mainly due to the overflowing of water from rivers and other bodies of water, including the accumulation of rainwater along drainage particularly during intense precipitation.

Table 1.1Flood Prone Areas in Region XII

Province/City Munipality/Specific AreasNorth Cotabato Tulunan, M’lang, Matalam, Kabacan, Pikit, Aleosan,

Midsayap,Alamada, Libungan, PigcawayanSultan Kudarat Isulan

Areas that are located near the riverbanks of Allah river and Banga River in Barangay Kolambog, Bambad, Dansuli, Kalawag III, Impao, Mapantig, Kenram and Sampao.Sitio Kamanga of Barangay LaguilayanEsperanza, Lambayong, Lebak

South Cotabato Santo Nino and NoralaLow lying areas along the valleysTupiNational Highway along Barangay Kablon, Barangay CebuanoLutayanBarangays of Lutayan Proper, Mamali, Maindang, and BayasongTantanganAlong the National Highway between New Iloilo and Bukay Pait, Barangay CabulingBanga, Surallah, T’boli

Sarangani AlabelBarangay Maribulan and in some areas of Barangay Poblacion.Glan, Malapatan, Kiamba, Maitum

Koronadal City Barangay of Poblacion, Saravia and Carpenter HillKidapawan City Sitios of Barangay Ilomavis and GinatilanGeneral Santos City

Sitio Minanga of Barangay BuayanPurok 23 of Barangay BulaBarangay Dadiangas North, EastPurok 7 of Barangay KatangawanAlong Santiago Boulevard near GenSan Public Market

Cotabato City Areas near the Rio Grande de Mindanao, Rio Grande de Tamontaka, Tarbung, Matampay, Miwaruy, Manday, Lugay-lugay, Bagua and Kalanganan Rivers, and Pagalamatan Creek

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Map 1.1Flood Hazard Map of Region XII

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2. Landslide

Landslide is characterized by any mass movement that is perceptible and involves relatively dry masses of earth debris. It is also defined as the down slope movement of soil or rock materials under the influence of gravity when shear stress exceeds the shear strength.

Contributing Factors Effecting HIGH HAZARD

Rainfall Intense ranging 100 to 200 mm/daySlope Rolling to very steep terrain with >18% slopeSoil/Rock Types Clay Soil and Highly brecciated bed rockLand Use Cover Poor vegetation/Barely Soil Distance from gulley head Proximately 20 metersDistance from roads Proximately 10 metersDistance from major faults Proximately 100 meters

Table 2.1Landslide Prone Areas

Province/City Munipality/Specific AreasNorth Cotabato Municpalities of Alamada and MakilalaIsulan, Sultan Kudarat 70% to 85 % slopes upstream of Cabilanan, Kakal River and

Buluan Creek. Also, the barangays on the eastern part of Isulan.

Santo Niño and Norala, and Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

Along the mountain slopes of east Norala.

Malungon, Sarangani Nagpan Barangay Center and the road leading to Alkikan.Alabel, Sarangani Sitio Siman of Barangay ParaisoKoronadal City At the ridge of Roxas Mountain Range at Sitio Acub,

Barangay San Isidro.Kidapawan City Steep slopes upstream of Marbel river and Matingao Creek.

General Santos City Steep Slopes along Saboay river, Silway river and Buayan river.Central and southwestern part of the city.

Cotabato City Colina Hill is a potential risk to mass movement and subsidence.

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Map 2.1Landslide Susceptibility Map of Region XII

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3. Earthquake

Earthquake is a feeble shaking to violent trembling of the ground produced by the sudden displacement of rocks or rocks materials below the surface of the earth. In Mindanao, the earthquake generators are along the Philippine Trench, Cotabato Trench, Davao Trench, Negros Trench, Philippine Fault and the Sindangan-Cotabato Fault. One of the destructive earthquakes that occurred in Region XII was on August 17, 1976. Its epicenter was in the Moro Gulf which is approximately 100 kilometers south of Cotabato City, and with Intensity VII. The March 6, 2002 earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale caused the breaching of Lake Maughan’s natural dam and induced flooding, riverbank scouring, erosion and sedimentation along the Allah River stretch.

Map 3.1Map Showing Earthquake Generators in Mindanao Island

Map 3.2

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Map Showing the Distribution of Active Faults in Region XII

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4. TSUNAMI

Tsunami are giant sea waves generated by under the sea earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. All coastal areas in the region are susceptible to tsunami.

Map 4.1Map Showing Tsunami Prone Areas and Tsunami Occurrences

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KIDAPAWAN CITY

KORONADAL CITY

GEN. SANTOS CITY

TACURONG CITY

MAGUINDANAO(ARMM)

Lake Maughan

CELEBES SEA

Saran

gani

Bay

Illana Bay

COTABATO CITY

SARANGANI

SOUTH COTABATO

SULTAN KUDARAT

COTABATO

Lake Sebu

ARMM

REGION X

REGION IX

ALABEL

ISULANLEBAK

KALAMANSIG

PALIMBANG

MAITUM

KIAMBA

MAASIM

MALAPATAN

GLAN

LEGEND:

- Tsunami Prone Areas- Year of Tsunami Occurrence

18281828

18231823

19171917

19761976

19181918

1976

KIDAPAWAN CITY

KORONADAL CITY

GEN. SANTOS CITY

TACURONG CITY

MAGUINDANAO(ARMM)

Lake Maughan

CELEBES SEA

Saran

gani

Bay

Illana Bay

COTABATO CITY

SARANGANI

SOUTH COTABATO

SULTAN KUDARAT

COTABATO

Lake Sebu

ARMM

REGION X

REGION IX

ALABEL

ISULANLEBAK

KALAMANSIG

PALIMBANG

MAITUM

KIAMBA

MAASIM

MALAPATAN

GLAN

LEGEND:

- Tsunami Prone Areas- Year of Tsunami Occurrence

18281828

18231823

19171917

19761976

19181918

1976

5. VOLCANIC HAZARD

Volcanic Hazard is associated with volcanoes include ash falls, volcanic mudflows (lahars) and flooding.

Table 5.1Active Volcanoes in Region XII

Name of Volcano

Number of Eruptions

Date of Last

Eruption

Type of Volcanic Activity Location

Mt. Ragang 9 1916 Explosive with lava flow

Alamada, North Cotabato

Mt. Matutum No record 1911 Dormant

Tampakan, Tupi and Polomolok, all in South Cotabato.

Mt. Parker No record 1641 Explosive with pyroclastic flow

Tiboli, South Cotabato

Table 5.2Areas Vulnerable to Volcanic Hazards

Province/City Potential Volcanic Hazard

North Cotabato Ash fall in case of violent eruptions of active volcanoes. Mt Apo is a dormant strato volcano.

Cotabato City Low risk area to effects of direct volcanic eruptions. Risk to flooding from breaching Lake Maughan if Mt. Parker erupts.

Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat Ash fall and lahar flooding

South CotabatoAll areas within the province are susceptible to ash falls while low lying areas along valleys are prone to volcanic mudflows and flooding.

General Santos City Susceptible to ash falls, volcanic mudflows and flooding.

Malungon, Sarangani

Susceptible to ash falls.Susceptible to ash fall, volcanic mudflows and flooding.

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Map 5.1Map Showing Quaternary Volcanic in Mindanao

6. GROUND FAILURE/LAND SUBSIDENCE

Ground Failure/Land Subsidence is a downward settling of soil material with little horizontal motion. The most common cause is the slow removal of material beneath the subsiding mass.

Table 6.1Areas Vulnerable to Ground Failure/Land Subsidence

Municipality/Province Specific AreasMaasim, Sarangani Hilly areas of the municipalityKiamba and Maitum in Sarangani

Along the hilly areas of both municipalities

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7. EROSION

Erosion is displacement of solids (soil, mud, rock and other particles) by the agents of ocean currents, wind, water, or ice by downward or down-slope movement in response to gravity or by living organisms (in the case of bioerosion).

Map 7.1Erosion Map

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Areas Vulnerable to ErosionProvince/City Municipality

North Cotabato Alamada, Libungan, Banisilan, Carmen, Antipas, Magpet, President Roxas, Arakan, Tulunan, Makilala

Sultan Kudarat Colombio, Lutayan, Esperanza, Lebak, Kalamansig, West Isulan, Ninoy Aquino, Bagumbayan

South Cotabato Tampakan, Tantangan, Banga, Tupi, Polomolok, Lake Sebu, T’boli

Sarangani Maasim, Malungon, Alabel, Malapatan, Glan and Maitum

Proposed DRM related activities

1. Provision of appropriate hazard markers on site2. Preparation of disaster contingency plan3. Implementation of either reforestation in areas prone to landslide and/or

construction of infrastructure mitigating measures4. Delineation and inclusion in the comprehensive land use plans of concerned

LGUs of environmentally hazardous areas and passage of zoning ordinances restricting land uses in such areas.

5. Conduct of hydrology study in flood prone areas6. Provision and delineation of easements along major power installations and

transmission lines; and7. Provision of investment support to implement Clean Air Act and Clean Water

Act.8. Setting up/Establishment of early warning devices/systems.9. Integration of DRM concepts in planning, investment programming, project

development, monitoring and evaluation and budgeting activities of the LGU.10. Strengthen advocacy on disaster awareness and mitigation.

ReferencesGeohazard Assessment of Region XII, MGB XII“Understanding Earthquakes”, PhilVOLCS XIIRegional Physical Framework Plan, 2004-2010, Region XIIWikepedia, the free encyclopedia Comprehensive Land Use Plan, 1999-2008, Cotabato CityLiving with RiskL A global review of disaster reduction initiatives, July 2002 ISDR. http://unisdr.org/unisdr

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