PHIVOLCS Geologist Jeffrey Cruz shows the different types of ground rupture.
QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The public may ask Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) for assessment of their area if it is hazardous or transected by fault line.
The possible dangers that may befall places transected by a fault line can be clearly seen from the photos presented by PHIVOLCS.
The initial danger from a movement on an active fault is ground rupture or surface rupture. This is when movement on a fault breaks through to the surface.
PHIVOLCS Geologist Jeffrey Perez said on demonstration of different ground ruptures documented from past big earthquakes struck in the country, “As what we saw in 1990 Luzon earthquake, this embankment was joined and aligned before the quake happened. After the quake, a rupture occurred with a length of 120 kilometers. And the horizontal displacement of the embankments in this area was 6 meters. ”
“Although coconut trees can withstand typhoons this one was no match for the magnitude 6.2 earthquake in Masbate in 2003.”
Another example was the Bohol earthquake in 2013 when it moved up a side of the ground by 2.5 meters.
It may also happen to the valley fault system that stretches across Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna.
The agency said, more people are expressing their interest after the valley fault system was launched.
PHIVOLCS is one of the government agencies mandated to issue environmental compliance certificate that is required by the LGU during building constructions.
If you want to be sure if your place is in the buffer zone of a fault line, you may ask PHIVOLCS for an assessment.
Just bring your property vicinity map, tittle or tax declaration and 100 pesos. (REY PELAYO / UNTV News)
For inquiries:
Address: PHIVOLCS Building, C.P. Garcia Avenue, U.P. Campus, Diliman Quezon City Philippines
E-mail: phivolcs_mail@phivolcs.dost.gov.ph; phivolcs.mail@gmail.com
Telephone: +632 426 1468 to 79
Fax: +632 929 8366, 927 4524
Official Website: http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph