Mayor Lani welcomes PHIVOLCS new atlas on fault line;

Vows to revise Taguig safety measures

Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano welcomes the issuance of the Valley Fault System (VFS) Atlas by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) to warn local government units (LGUs) of places dangerously sitting on top of the West Valley Fault.

At the same time, Mayor Lani vows to revise Taguig City’s safety plans and measures based on PHIVOLCS new atlas.

Mayor Lani said Taguig government will use as guide the VFS Atlas in crafting updated contingency plans that will prepare the city in case the West Valley Fault delivers a devastating earthquake.

It can be recalled that Mayor Lani organized from scratch the city’s Rescue Team when she took over the helm of Taguig in 2010. The Team has been sufficiently equipped and trained to respond to any disaster. The city earned the Seal of Disaster Preparedness in 2012.

Mayor Lani said she is reviewing the latest atlas with the Rescue Team and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council in order to assess where to refocus  its attention and readjust its capability in places located in Taguig that were identified in the atlas.

According to the VFS, areas in Taguig that are situated over the West Valley Fault include Bagumbayan, Bagong Tanyag, Upper Bicutan, Central Bicutan, Lower Bicutan, Maharlika Village, Pinagsama, North Signal Village, Central Signal Village, South Signal Village, Ususan and south Daang Hari.

The city has asked PHIVOLCS’s assistance to specifically identify and mark the most vulnerable and affected sites in these areas.

To cushion the impact in case earthquake happens, the city plans, among others, to disseminate information in the communities affected by the fault line, inspect and ensure the structural integrity of buildings and establishments, modify or prohibit construction and development in the areas and lay down contigency plans which include trainings and drills for the identified communities. ###