GENERAL SANTOS CITY (January 14, 2015) – The University of the Philippines – National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP-NIGS) in partnership with the RD Foundation, General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Inc. (GSCCCII) and the city government will start a study here in General Santos City for the enhancement of landslide and flooding susceptibility information.
The study which will take 180 days will start on January 13 and will analyze the susceptibility of areas around Makar River in terms of flooding and landslide.
This research is expected to provide an updated and more comprehensive information, following the data given by the Department of Environment of Natural Resources – Mines and Geoscience Bureau (DENR-MGB) last 2005 on the flooding susceptibility of Makar River.
“We are very aware of the changes that Makar River has been going through for the past decade as caused by natural and man-made factors and detriments. We are expecting that this study will guide the city to what will it do in order to protect its constituents living beside the river,” City Mayor Ronnel Rivera explained.
“We in the local government also support this study so that we can develop Gensan as a disaster resilient city,” Rivera addeed.
The study will cover the seven-kilometer stretch of Makar River starting in its estuary.
The UP-NIGS will bring specialists who will conduct hydrogeologic and hydrographic studies in Makar River to determine the site’s vulnerability to flooding. They will also evaluate the city’s predisposition to landslide hazards.
Also, the research will give particular emphasis to the possible effects of these natural phenomena to Gensan and its development plans by integrating various climate change scenarios.
Profiles on Makar River’s average depth, sediment thickness, flow rate—factors for flooding—will be provided by the study.
Inventory of local flooding events, Morphometry, Geomorphic Evolution, Bathmetry studies are also expected to be carried out by UP-NIGS specialists.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office headed by Bong Dacera will assist the UP-NIGS in the study.
On the other hand, the GSCCCII will shoulder the P3 million cost of the study while the RD Foundation will cater the entire accommodation of the UP-NIGS team.
The GSCCCII is also expected to fund future hard projects, if in case the study will recommend the construction of any structures/facilities that will mitigate the flooding and landslide along the banks of Makar River.
A Memorandum of Agreement has already been signed by the involved parties last November 25, 2014 to pursue the research. (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)
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