Eng'r Gerardo P.

Apor's Paper on Landslide Hazard and Risk Mapping of Rural Barangays in Cagayan de Oro City
by Margaret Macatol

About a year ago, 21st of May 2010, Xavier University College of Engineering's very own Eng'r. Gerardo P. Apor (CE) presented his paper on Landslide Hazard and Risk Mapping of Rural Barangays in Cagayan de Oro City during the 8th Annual National Civil Engineering Education Congress held at Holy Name University in Bohol. According to an interview with Eng'r. Apor, the four rural barangays mainly focused on the study were located in Lumbia, Bayanga, Mambuaya, and Dansulihon. The corresponding areas stated are classified to be high at risk for sliding, most especially the ones which were coincidentally located near highways. The main objective of the paper was to develop a risk map in order to discourage local people from nearby hazardous areas from building their household residences in the identified barangay spots to avoid all possible landslide threats. Eng'r. Apor also added, Some of the communities, although not all, are actually located in rather steep slopes. These are to be mostly considered as a non-formal form of housing. Now, a formal housing would usually be built on not so steep slopes. Nowadays, not too many people are very much aware of what some highways are exposed to, which may be a lot of hazards. Even the most insubstantial consequences can become a hazard. My main job here is to rate such circumstances into measurable risks we can identify.