Government expert insists relocation of hazard area in New Bataan

DAVAO CITY, June 18 (PIA) An officer of  Project NOAH ( Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) insisted that residents of Barangay Andap, in New Bataan, Compostela Valley have to relocate to safer ground away from its previous location to prevent further loss of lives during flash floods which happened during the onslaught of typhoon Pablo.

Speaking to reporters in the 21st PAGASA-DOST Seminar Workshop for Southern Mediamen, Oscar Victor Lizardo, chief science specialist of Project Noah said Barangay Andap is located in an alluvial fan where the flow and direction of water and debris during heavy downpour and flash floods are unpredictable.

He said relocation is an issue that the local government has to decide.

Lizardo said that aside from their office, the National Housing Authority and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council need to step in to stress the relocation of residents.

“The residents must be taken away from that alluvial fond since it is not safe for habitation. It is no longer safe to live there,” he said.

Lizardo revealed based on their disaster assessment, a debris flow occurred in Barangay Andap during typhoon Pablo.

He said the flash flood in Barangay Andap during the occurrence of typhoon Pablo was accompanied by several kilometres of stone debris.

Lizardo explained that a debris flow is hard to predict since it changes direction from time to time especially if its former path is already blocked by huge rocks and stones.

“The barangay’s location  is not suitable for settlement because it is susceptible to debris flow, thus the need for relocation,” he said.

Lizardo described the ordeal of the residents of Barangay Andap during the typhoon as unimaginable since as heavy rains and strong winds battered the place, a flash flood occurred carrying with it large stones as big as a bus or with  a height as high as nine meters for more than one hour.

He said Project Noah turns one year on July 6 in its functions to prevent, mitigate, to prepare and  to assess disasters and calamities in coordination with the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration, local governments and the residents. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)