(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Monday, 31 March 2025) Easterlies affecting the country. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to Easterlies. Possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains. While Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur will be partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshoer or thunderstorm due to Easterlies. Possible flashflood or lanslide during thunderstorn. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from East to Northeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters)


Friday, 21 March 2025

Butuan City releases earthquake hazard assessment tools

By Mariesh F. CeledeΓ±a

BUTUAN CITY – In collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS), the city government of Butuan launched on March 11 the scientific publications on Butuan City Earthquake Model: Event-Based Probabilistic Seismic Risks Assessment Technical Reports, Butuan City Buildings Portfolio, and How Safe is My House Brochure in Binutuanon and Bisaya versions.

The publication will help and equip the Butuanons to personally assess the resiliency of their houses against disaster based on the construction materials used, renovations made, history of disaster, age and others.

The collaboration between the city government of Butuan and DOST-PHILVOCS started in 2022 and since then their collaboration on hazard modeling, field validation and reviews, technical writing, among others resulted in the crafting of the two volumes of the said technical reports or books.

The first volume entitled “Butuan City Earthquake Model: Event-Based Probabilistic Seismic Risk Assessment Technical Report” determined the probabilistic motion hazard of the city, wherein the technical team assessed 10,000 buildings. Volume two, on the other hand, consisted of the building portfolios from 1968 to 2024.

Accordingly, Butuan City transcends in the Philippine fault known as the Surigao segment, making the city prone to earthquake hazards. There are barangays in the eastern part of the city that transcended in the Philippine fault Surigao and Esperanza segments, namely; Barangay Sto. NiΓ±o, Los Angeles, Sumilihon, Taguibo, Ampayon, Antongalon, Basag, Camayahan, Florida, Maibu, and Sumile.

Dr. Teresito C. Bacolcol, DOST-PHILVOCS director, said that their office has been helping local government units in their disaster-related planning. “DOST-PHIVOLCS has been developing hazard models and maps to help mitigate the impacts of destructive earthquakes. These models provide important data for urban planning, disaster risk reduction and building safety,”

Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente C. Lagnada emphasized the importance of this tool for the communities to be earthquake-ready, highlighting that the city is situated in a delta area making it vulnerable to disasters.

“This is a huge moment for us, this is a very important tool for us. We cannot allow the programs and developments that we have created and established to be destroyed by disasters like earthquakes. This tool will guide all the future developments in our city,” Lagnada underscored.  (MFC/PIA-Caraga)