The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) hosted a seminar dubbed “Alerto! Rehiyon Uno: Forum on Geological Hazards in Region 1.”
The event was held at the Provincial Training and Development Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan, last Thursday, July 20, to prepare for any hazards and disasters the country would face.
DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum, the event’s keynote speaker and introduced by Dr. Teresita U. Tabaog, OIC director of the DOST Region 1 Office, said that disaster resilience is the key to science, technology, and innovation in facing major disasters or calamities.
“Through science, we can prevent further losses in lives and damages to properties,” the DOST chief stressed, adding technology and innovations are necessary to safeguard economic gains and “most importantly, to save lives.”
In anticipation of “The Big One” that will possibly hit Manila, Solidum said they don’t expect significant damage in Region 1, but it still depends on the place’s distance to Manila.
Based on the study of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), released in 2004, at least 34,000 persons will die while 114,000 will be injured, and 40 percent of residential buildings in Metro Manila will be affected—170,000 houses will collapse while another 340,000 will be partly damaged—and about 500 fire incidents will occur within the first hour of the earthquake.
Solidum added that “resilience is the ability of a community exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, adapt to, transform and recover from the effects of a hazard in a timely and efficient manner.”
Jeffrey S. Perez, supervising science research specialist of DOST and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOCS), presented images and history of past earthquake occurrences in Pangasinan. Although the epicenters were not in the province, the province suffered significant damage.
He explained that an earthquake epicenter is a point on the earth’s surface directly above the focus. Intensity V earthquakes are those felt by everyone.
Meanwhile, DOST-PHILVOCS science research specialist, Robelyn Mangahas, explained tsunami hazards and facts, differentiating tsunamis from storm surges.
To generate a tsunami, the earthquake generator where the earthquake occurs must be underneath or near the ocean, causing vertical movement of the seafloor; over a large area and shallow focus earthquakes.
The height of tsunamis can be as high as 12 meters. It is a series of waves. The first wave may not be the biggest. Some of the impacts of tsunamis include flash floods. One effect of post-tsunami is the destruction of agricultural lands and causing mud, thus bringing dirty water.
Ms. Ma. Mylene Martinez Villegas, chief of science research specialist for DOST-PHILVOCS, presented an overview of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM).
Another science research specialist, John Harold Tabuzo, talked about georisk.
During the seminar, Von Mark Mendoza, special assistant to the Pangasinan governor, welcomed the eager guests. On the other hand, Dr. Gregory M. Cayetano, Region 1 director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), acknowledged the speakers, guests, and participants. Dr. Teodoro M. Gatchalian, the DOST undersecretary, delivered the opening message.