COLLEGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF TARLAC

High School Department

San Sebastian Village, Tarlac City
S.Y 2021-2022
NAME:
SECTION:
Finding Faults
Laboratory Activity 1
Introduction
PHIVOLCS describes the 1200-km Philippine Fault Zone (PFZ) as a major tectonic
feature that transects the entire Philippine archipelago along a general strike of 30◦N to 40◦W
from northwestern Luzon to southeastern Mindanao. This left-lateral strike-slip fault is divided
into several segments and has been the source of large magnitude earthquakes in recent years
such as the 1973 Ragay Gulf earthquake, the 1990 Luzon earthquake, and the 2003 Masbate
earthquake. Due to the high seismic risk posed by the PFZ, PHIVOLCS continuously studies the
zone to determine and map unknown faults and their activities.
There are three distinct fault lines representing segments of the PFZ running through
Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. First is the Valley Fault System, which is an active dominantly
dextral strike-slip fault in the Greater Manila Area, composed of two fault segments. The 10-km
East Valley Fault (EVF) runs through Rizal Province and the 100-km West Valley Fault runs
through the cities of Quezon, Marikina, Pasig, Makati, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Taguig, and the
provinces of Laguna and Cavite. Second is the Central Leyte Fault System in Eastern Visayas,
which begins in Villalon, Northern Leyte and ends in San Francisco, Southern Leyte. Third is the
Central Mindanao Fault System, which is the most active and longest fault line in Northern
Mindanao that runs from Ginoog City, Misamis Oriental to Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. In this
activity, you will familiarize yourself with the PHIVOLCS active faults map and locate some
major faults in the PFZ.
Objectives
 Locate major faults on the PHIVOLCS active faults map
 Determine the proximity of a place to an active fault

Procedures
1. Log in on http://faultfinder.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph
2. Study the map and trace the given fault systems.
a. West Valley Fault- trace then shade with orange color
b. Central Leyte Fault- trace then shade with blue color
c. Central Mindanao Fault- trace then shade with green color
3. Locate where you live on the map. Encircle the area and shade it with yellow color.
4. Shade with red color the name of the fault line nearest your location.
5. Screenshot your work and write a description for each and paste it on the second page of
this paper
6. Answer the following questions.

Conclusion
What is the distance of your house and school to the nearest active faults?

Post-laboratory questions
1. What is the nearest active fault system from your place.

2. After studying the distribution of fault systems in the map, what islands are the safest
from strong tectonic earthquakes?

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