ARAYAT - Officials of Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region III had recommended to Governor Lilia Nanay Baby Pineda and Mayor Luis "Chito" Espino the relocation of the inhabitants located at the foot of the mountain in San Juan Bano village, this town to other safe places.
This amidst the continuous threat posed by Mount Arayat's possible landslide due to heavy down pour as huge volume of sediments such as pyroclastic materials, lahar, lava and huge boulders are found on topside of the mountain.
This developed as Gov. Pineda has instructed a group composed of Col. Gregorio Pio Catapang of the 703rd Brigade of the Philippine Army, Noel Lacadin, MGB geologist, officials from DPWH and DENR-PENRO, CENRO to conduct an aerial survey and geological hazard study on the real status of Mt. Arayat after the recent typhoons.
MGB geologist disclosed that these sediments were accumulated when this inactive volcano erupted 10,000 years ago.
DPWH officials said no amount of engineering intervention could contain or prevent the landslide, which they said, is accident waiting to happen.
DPWH said the funds needed for the construction of a relocation center is cheaper than the funds that could be spent for the construction of a diversion system for the landslide prone villages.
"And this diversion system is not a guarantee for the safety of the residents as the water and rolling lahar, boulders and lava will still flow to another way going down the foot of the mountain and we cannot prevent nature to take its course," DPWH, MGB said.
Gov. Pineda said the municipal government should initiate the immediate relocation of the affected families in San Juan Bano before it's too late.
Espino bared he has already instructed the people there, however, the residents chose to stay.
Floridablanca Mayor Eddie Guerrero who was around during the assessment made by Pineda and the group of officials who conducted the aerial survey, said relocation is highly needed but before it could be done, there is a need for a social preparation and this could never be done overnight.
It can be recalled that as early as 2009, after the landslide tragedy brought by typhoon Ondoy, the affected 270 residents were advised to relocate to other safer place.
A year after the tragedy, Gov. Pineda has initiated the construction of 64 bunk houses as temporary shelters for the affected families.