Disaster strikes almost every day in the Philippines brought about either by road accidents, street crimes, torrential rains, typhoons, high urbanization and or poor urban planning, or simply by poor choices and stupid decisions from individuals.
Of course, there is the “Big One”. Every quarter, a national simultaneous earthquake drill is conducted in key cities to simulate scenarios of devastation and instill readiness among Metro Manila residents.
Yes, all are fixated at that devastating “Big One” earthquake in Metro Manila; understandably because of the foreseen devastating impact to the highly urbanized cities.
But for Mindanao residents, especially those in Zamboanga Peninsula and Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi island provinces, there is a ‘bigger one’ that everyone must prepare for, at least, according to Engr. Allan Labayog of Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) in Zamboanga City.
“The problem is, we [in ZamPen] are focused on the ‘big one’ in Metro Manila, forgetting that we have a bigger concern within our midst,” Labayog said as he pointed out that there are two major earthquake generators in the region: the Sulu and Cotabato Trenches.
The ‘bigger one’ is anticipated from the Sulu Trench as it has not recorded major movement over a hundred years already. The last recorded Sulu Trench earthquake on September 21, 1897 caused a devastating tsunami that destroyed several coastal communities of BASULTA island provinces and west coasts of Zamboanga Peninsula.
Zamboanga Peninsula and the BaSulTa island provinces sit in between two active trenches—the Sulu trench and Cotabato trench. Historical facts reveal that at one point in history, violent earthquakes in these two trenches triggered tsunamis and destruction to life and property.
Every September 21 of every year, Isabela City in Basilan is commemorating the rising of water (tsunami) and the miraculous events attributed to its patron saint, Santa Isabel de Portugal (the Terremoto Commemoration).
Historians believed that this celebration may have its roots at the September 21, 1897 tsunami, triggered by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake at the Sulu trench. On August 17, 1976, another destructive tsunami occurred as triggered at the Moro Gulf, near the Cotabato trench.
Experts said that there is reason to be alarmed and be alerted by these events because they were the last recorded destructive events in these two trenches. It was some 122 years ago for the Sulu trench and some 44 years ago for the Cotabato trench. And Basilan and the west coastlines of Zamboanga Peninsula is only some 156 kilometers away from the earthquake generator (Sulu trench).
What worries scientists is that the longer the Sulu Trench is silent, the greater the tension being accumulated.
During the recent regional DRRMC Committee on Disaster Preparedness meeting in Zamboanga City, Labayog showed figures that plot various seismic events of 2018 and until August of 2019.
READ: ‘The Big One’ Earthquake Might Strike Anytime, Phivolcs Says
He said there were 47 seismic events recorded for 2018 and most seismic events were clustered within the area of Baliguian, Zamboanga Del Norte. A Magnitude 4.90 was the highest recorded event, Magnitude Range is 1.90-4.90, with Depth range 0-40 kilometers, and felt at Intensity 2 in Zamboanga City.
There are 59 seismic events recorded for 2019 from January to August 2019 with seismic events clustered within the area of Manukan-Dipolog, Zamboanga Del Norte. A Magnitude 5.50 was the highest recorded event, Magnitude Range is 1.30-5.50, with a Depth range of 0-30 kilometers, and felt at Intensity 4 in Zamboanga City.
Labayog observed that almost all of these events happened near the Sulu Trench. He said that most movements near Baliguian area do not show aftershocks. It could mean that “when there was rock displacement, it did not return to its original state.”
The officer-in-charge for PHIVOLCS said that he does not intend to scare the public, but knowing the seismic events should urgently tell us to prepare for a ‘bigger’ event and our people will have better chances of survival.
READ: Here are the things you should know about The Big One, a deadly earthquake with 7.2 magnitude
He pointed out that most highly urbanized communities are found along coastlines. And since most of the industries (like the sardine industry) are also found along the coastlines, the threat is higher for our food security. Remember that sardines are important relief goods distributed to victims of calamities.
Labayog, further, encouraged local government units at this time to prepare and conduct more tsunami drills where people can move to a higher ground (at least ten meters) as quickly and as organized as possible.
READ: Phivolcs: What To Do When 'The Big One' Comes
He also asked LGUs to invest in alarm system, signages and solar-powered street lamps that would light the path towards higher ground, especially when disaster strikes at night or dawn. When disaster strikes, the first thing to cut-off is power.
Thus, it was emphasized during the meeting that all DRRMOs and LGUs must have contingency plans for various scenarios and secondary impacts of disasters. The DILG-IX reported that while LGUs have already crafted their contingency plans, there is none yet for the regional level.
In disaster preparedness, one crucial element is information and advocacy campaigns. Labayog found it absurd and lamentable that a local mall in Zamboanga City would not allow or could not even play the 30-seconder video information campaign of the Philippine Information Agency-IX on disaster preparedness. He called on business sectors to take an active role in mitigating disaster and reduce its impact when people are aware and prepared.
Moreover, in a resolution, the regional DRRMC committee on disaster preparedness has asked Engr. Labayog to come up with a situationer-literature or paper of earthquake-tsunami scenarios and risks profile based on his studies and observations as resource material for decision and policy makers of the region.
Engr. Labayog did not provide interpretation to the patterns of seismic events that he plotted, but what is certain perhaps is that the government and the public must indeed prepare for a ‘bigger one’. The only question is when will it happen and how prepared are we? (EDT/RVC/PIA9-BASILAN)
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This article first appeared on Philippine Information Agency.
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