MANGALINO, DIANE B.

August 14, 2019

BSED 4 Math

Declare landslide-hit Albay roads as no-build zones– expert

(www.rappler.com by Mavic Conde 1:53 PM, January 04, 2019)

Temporarily declaring the roads as no-build zones would keep residents from
rebuilding their homes near the area, and pave the way for interventions to stabilize and
protect the mountain slope.
ALBAY, Philippines – A retired engineer and resident of one of the towns hit hard
by Tropical Depression Usman called on local officials to temporarily declare roads hit
by landslides as no-build zones.
“Until the mountain sides have been stabilized, slopes and roads carriageway
have been protected, bridges have been rebuilt and water lines have been restored, the
road sections of Barangay Sogod in Tiwi town to Barangay Patitinan in Sagñay,
Camarines Sur, must be declared a no-build zone,” said former engineer Abdon Balde
Jr.
Balde said this will prevent residents from rebuilding their homes in the same
areas, and also prevent further disturbances of the mountainside in relation to the road
widening program of Department of Philippine Works and Highway (DPWH) to make the
road compatible with the Asian Highway Network (AH26).
“When the two-lane roads were widened to 4 lanes, the mountainside was
disturbed, some even mined for gravel base course to be used as foundation for the
additional two lanes. What was lacking was the stabilization program for the newly
exposed mountainside,” he said.
“The no-build zone may be lifted after the mountain slope protection and
stabilization have been completed,” he added.
“Other countries apply soil nailing where bores are drilled into the sides and with
high-pressure injection, fast-curing and high-strength concrete pushed into the
subsurface until the buried rocks are interconnected by concrete,” he said.
"Unfortunately, the DPWH may still not have the technology,” Balde added.
Tiwi Mayor Jaime Villanueva agreed that the no-build zone is a must for affected
areas, but noted a primary consideration in assessing the proposal. “I agree, although
we have to factor in that it is the only National Road to Patitinan in Camarines, Sur,” he
said.

SOLUTION
There are some factors of occurring landslides. Steep slopes. In the case of Tiwi-
Sagñay, volcanic mountains are being undercut (over a period of a century or longer) at
the base by wave erosion along the coast, and by stream erosion that makes the deep
valleys and slopes facing inward toward the streams. The nature of rock and soil cover.
At least some of the rocks in Tiwi-Sagñay area were formed from lava that got fractured
as the old lava flows came to a halt. Heavy rainfall. It soaks the ground and adds weight
to the mass of soil and rock, and also lubricates any potential slip planes. Strong
earthquake. There was no earthquake in this recent case – just rain.
It is commended that every province should have a geologist since not every small town
can afford to have one. Cooperation with the peers and to be knowledgeable enough.
As well as helping to educate the community. And Relocation as a long-term solution.