MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon–Local officials said they have been monitoring identified flood- and landslide-prone areas in the city with the onset of the rainy season.
Alan J. Comiso, Malaybalay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) chief, said some of the flood-prone areas in the city are the villages in the Basakan area, Barangay Aglayan, Bongbongon area or Purok 6 in Barangay Sumpong, Barangays 10, 11, Casisang, Bangcud and Sitio Panamucan in Barangay San Jose.
Several houses were destroyed when these villages were hit by floods in the previous years, Comiso noted.
“Early flood warning monitoring systems were installed at Sawaga River in Barangay Sumpong, Pulangi River in Zamboaguita and a creek in Sitio Cabacungan in Linabo,” Comiso said during a media forum held in line with the observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month on July 2.
Comiso also lamented that the monitoring system in Linabo had been stolen. He urged residents not to detach or destroy the early flood warning devices as it may save lives.
He also identified some landslide-prone areas such as Barangays Kibalabag, Manalog, Can-ayan and villages in Upper Pulangui area.
Based on weather advisory, Comiso said there will be eight to 12 cyclones that will affect the country from April to September.
As precautionary measure, he said the CDRRMO has been tasked to conduct a pre-disaster assessment and implement several mitigation measures to address flooding.
Also, Comiso said the government is set to plant 50,000 balete tree seedlings in headwater sources.
Ma. Anita Fernandez, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, also advised farmers living in hilly areas to plant rubber trees — instead of corn — to prevent landslide.
Fernandez noted that the city currently has about 500 hectares of rubber tree plantation, and that her office has distributed free rubber seedlings to local farmers four years ago.
Another mitigating measure that the local government is looking into, she said, is the distribution of bamboo planting materials to rehabilitate denuded water sources in Barangay Kibalabag. (Mel B. Madera/PNA)
