NAME: MARJORIE M.

RAZONABE
DISASTER MITIGATION, ADAPTATION, AND PREPAREDNESS – A1

Summary and Reaction on Mass Movement and Karst Subsidence by

Mr. Ralph Angelo B. Plaza

The topic discussed by Mr. Ralph Angelo B. Plaza is all about the
mass movement and karst subsidence, the geohazards, landslides, and mass
movement.

According to the presentation discussed by the speaker, a geohazard, also known as a

geologic or geographical hazard, is a natural phenomenon capable of inflicting harm to people
or property. It is a geological process that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts;
property damage, loss of livelihoods and services; social and economic disruption, or
environmental damage. The Philippines is a geohazard prone country because of its geographic
and geologic setting on the Pacific Ring of Fire and earthquake belt. According to it, there are
20 typhoons per year that occur. It is exacerbated by human intervention and poor site selection
of settlement sites.

The term "landslide" describes a wide variety of processes that result in the downward
and outward movement of stope-forming materials, including rock, soil, artificial fill, or a
combination of these. The materials may move by falling, toppling, sliding, spreading, or
flowing. The difference between a landslide and mass movement is that a landslide is a general
term for mass wasting that involves fast-moving geologic material, while mass movement is a
much broader term referring to all movement downslope and can be slow or fast-moving. On
the other hand, they both occur when the force of gravity exceeds the strength of the slope
material.

According to the presentation, there were 3 major causes of landslides: water, seismic
activity, and volcanic activity. water if there is intense rainfall, snowmelt, changes in
groundwater levels, water-level changes along coastlines, earth dams, banks of lakes,
reservoirs, canals, and rivers. Seismic activity, at least moderate rates of earthquakes, can cause
landslides, especially in mountainous or steep landslide-prone areas. Volcanic activity is the
most devastating, especially volcanic debris flows or lahars. Structural mitigations were created
in order to prevent landslides in the area. Slope benching, rock bolts, retaining walls, shotcrete,
geogrid, and boulder nets are examples of these.

Karst is a special style of landscape containing caves and extensive underground water
systems that are developed on especially soluble rocks such as limestone, marble, and gypsum.
It is characterized by sinking streams, caves, enclosed depressions, fluted rock outcrops, and
large springs. Recharged water may originate from the karst area itself (autogenic recharge) or
from adjacent non-karstic areas (allogenic recharge). Groundwater flow in the matrix and small
fissures is typically slow and laminar. However, flow in karst conduits (caves) is often fast and
turbulent.

To answer the question, "How is the lecture helpful in making you more prepared
in case of disasters?" The lecture helped me be more prepared in case of disasters by making
me aware of what I need to do in case of disasters like landslides. It helps me to think about
what the mitigations are to do to prevent or lessen the effect of landslides in the area.