Thursday, January 15, 2015

Gensan, UP, partners on flood assessment


GENERAL SANTOS CITY: The University of the Philippines – National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP-NIGS) in partnership with the RD Foundation, General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Inc. (GSCCCII) and the city government will start a study here for the enhancement of landslide and flooding susceptibility information, a new press release said.


The study will take four months and started last Wednesday, will analyze the susceptibility of areas around Makar River in terms of flooding and landslide.

This research is expected to provide an updated and more comprehensive information, following the data given by DENR-MGB last 2005 on the flooding susceptibility of Makar River.

Mayor Ronnel Rivera explained they are expecting the study will guide the city on what to do in order to protect its residents living along the river.

The study will cover the seven-kilometer stretch of Makar River starting in its estuary, added Rivera.

Also, the research will give particular emphasis to the possible effects of these natural phenomena to Gensan and its development plans by integrating various climate change scenarios, the mayor said.

Profiles on Makar River’s average depth, sediment thickness, flow rate will be provided by the study as  the inventory of local flooding events, Morphometry, Geomorphic Evolution, Bathmetry studies will also be carried out by UP-NIGS specialists.

The cost of the study cost about P3-million.

Last Nov. 25, 2014, a MOA was signed by the involved parties pursue the research. (with reports from Ian John M. Lagare)