Research Report on 2009 Floods and Landslides Disasters Caused by Typhoons 16(Ondoy), 17(Pepeng) and 18(Sante) in the Philippines
4.Investigation in Baguio City and Benguet Province
4.1. Field Survey
1.Research Areas:
Landslide-affected areas in Baguio City and Benguet Province, Flood-affected
areas in Baguio city
2.Summary:
The developing city of Baguio located on the mountainside was affected by floods and landslides. Many of its houses are built on steep slopes and were damaged by slope failures. Slope failures also occurred along main roads such as Kennon Road, leaving Baguio isolated for 5 days. The most serious landslide was a sediment disaster at La Trinidad, Benguet Province. Flood disaster research was also conducted in Baguio, and revealed that the main causes of flooding in low-lying areas were the blocking of a drainage path by a volume of garbage thrown by local citizens, and the blocking of valleys by structures. The research also showed that illegal occupants in areas at risk of flooding had exacerbated the disasters.
4.2. Interview Survey
1) In Baguio town hall, Mayor Reinaldo "Peter Rey" A. Bautista Jr. described the city's recent problems and future prospects. In this interview, it emerged that Baguio faces serious issues with regard to climate conditions, the vulnerability of pine trees to landslides, its struggle to prevent rapid population growth, and the regional ban on mining development projects. Baguio city also has a high risk of earthquake disasters. For example, the city was devastated by the Luzon earthquake of 1990. There are three fault lines that pass through the city area.
2) Data collection and interviews were conducted at the Baguio City Disaster
Coordinating Council (CDCC).
3) Hazard maps were accepted and the vulnerability of Baguio city to landslides
was explained at the MGB (Mines & Geosciences Bureau) in Baguio city.
4) A disaster response scheme was outlined at the Cordillera Regional
Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC). The flow of information relating
to disaster responses in the Philippines was set up as follows:
NDCC → OCD → RDDCC → PDCC → MDCC → BDCC → local people in barangays.
5) At the governor's office of Benguet Province, interviews were conducted
on the subject of landslide disasters and disaster responses at the local
level.
[ DIL TOP page | TOP page ]
