Phivolcs team to inspect fissures in Moises Padilla

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) will send a team to Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, by end of September to inspect the fissures and liquefaction activities at Sitio Lower Manaol, Barangay Quintin Remo.

Reynald Horegue, head of Moises Padilla Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the team will also assess the situation in order to make a recommendation to the local chief executive.

Horegue said it’s a good thing that Phivolcs replied positively to their request for inspection of the area.

He said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) will also wait for the Phivolcs team so that they can both inspect the area.

At least 17 families composed of 64 individuals were evacuated last month, following a series of fissures, a landslide, and liquefaction activities in the area brought about by rain.

Until now, these individuals are still at the evacuation center, pending advice from the authorities if it’s safe to go back, Horegue said.

He said that fissures are still visible, although there were no reported incidents of landslide and liquefaction recently.

Mayor Ella Celestina D. Garcia-Yulo also confirmed that the MGB and Phivolcs will be coming to the town to evaluate and study the ground cracks.

According to a copy of the email furnished by both MGB and Phivolcs to Yulo, they will conduct their visits and studies from Sept 26 to 30.

Yulo said she has not allowed the 18 families residing in the area to return to their respective homes because of the “uncertainty of the situation.”

But some residents were allowed to visit the area to check on their crops and livestock.

The Department of Education (DepEd), meanwhile, has provided educational assistance to the children of the affected families, the mayor said.

“Mahulat gid kami, it’s better to be safe than sorry,” Yulo said. (With a report from Dolly Yasa)