Phivolcs probers to inspect ground fissures in Moises Padilla

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-Phivolcs) will deploy a team to the province from Sept. 26 to 30 to investigate the ground fissures in the remote barangay of Moises Padilla.

As of today, residents from at least 11 affected households in Sitio Manaol, Barangay Quintin Remo have remained in the evacuation center at the town proper after they left their homes last month to ensure their safety from possible landslides.

Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, in an interview, said the team from DOST-Phivolcs will coordinate with the personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau during the conduct of the fieldwork.

“For the meantime, the residents will be staying in the evacuation center since we can’t be sure about the weather. It often rains. Although they still return to their homes during the day. The parents have to take care of their livelihood there, but they sleep here (evacution center) with their children,” she added.

Garcia-Yulo said the Department of Education has made arrangements to allow the displaced children to attend school in the elementary and high schools in the town proper for now.

“We will wait for the findings. Better safe than sorry,” she added.

On August 16, Garcia-Yulo, together with personnel of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, inspected the affected area in Sitio Manaol after it was observed that the ground fissures expanded following continuous rains.

A day after, some 11 households started to evacuate and remained in the evacuation center until now.* (Nanette Guadalquiver/Moises Padilla DRRMO photo of fissures)