DAVAO CITY, June 18 (PIA) A government
geologist revealed that Mt. Apo, the highest peak in the country remains
potentially active for the past 20 since its classification was changed from
being dormant.
Speaking in the I-Speak Forum, Engr.
Janila De Ocampo, science research specialist of the Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology based in Davao City said the classification of Mt.
Apo was changed in 1995 along with other ten active volcanoes in Mindanao
following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in June 1991.
She explained that in the past, active
and dormant were the classifications given to the country’s volcanoes.
However, De Ocampo said potentially
active is added to the list of classifications.
“Volcanoes are considered dormant if
they do not have records of eruption while the active ones are those that erupt
every now and then with a given record of eruption” De Ocampo said.
She said that Mt. Apo is classified as
potentially active because, even with the absence of historical records of
eruption, there are indicators that it might go off, based on the assessment
given by geologists.
De Ocampo said that in the absence of a
hazardous volcanic activity, the PHILVOCS through the local government units
surrounding Mt. Apo cannot impose restrictions on the activities of the people
surrounding the area, unlike in Mt. Mayon in Legazpi City where a six-kilometer
danger zone is highly observed.
She said that before a volcanic activity
is manifested months before its actual eruption, consequently,
forewarning the residents. (PIA 11-Joey
Sem G. Dalumpines)
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