With the onset of rainy season and the prevalence of the southwest monsoon, western seaboard towns are likely to experience coastal flooding, erosion and landslides. People living near the coasts of La Union, Zambales, Pangasinan and Ilocos provinces coast are constantly living under the threat of these hazards due to the effects of strong Habagat and the recent parade of typhoons (Egay, Falcon, Nangka) that brought storm surges, gusty winds and huge waves.
Heavy rains that lashed northern Luzon last week are expected to cause coastal erosion in the municipalities identified to be highly prone such as:
1.) Province of Bataan – Mariveles Municipality (Brgys. Townsite and Lucanin ~33.33m eroded corridor);
2.) Province of Zambales – Botolan Municipality (Brgys. Capayawan, Bangan, and Porac ~348m eroded corridor);
3.) Province of Northern Cagayan – Aparri Municipality (Bulala Norte ~303.24m eroded corridor), Buguey Municipality (Minanga Este ~407.27m eroded corridor), and Gonzaga Municipality (Caroan ~54m eroded corridor);
4.) Province of La Union - Bauang Municipality (Brgys. Pugo, Pudoc, Parian Oeste, Payocyoc Norte, Pilar Santiago, Bagbag and Urayong), Aringay Municipality (Brgys. Samara, Alaska and Dulao), Sto. Tomas Municipality (Brgy. Cabaruan), Rosario Municipality (Brgy. Damortis), Bangay (Borono, Tempago, Beques);
5.) Province of Ilocos Sur – most of coastal barangays of Tagudin (Libtong, Pudoc, and Bimmanga ~375.02m), Candon (Tamurong ~203.81m), Sta. Lucia (Paratong, Bao-as, Nangalisan ~306.55m), Cabugao (Bungad; and Bungro ~198.06m); Sto. Domingo (Caayab ~153.53m and Kasili ~200.20m), Vigan (Mindoro, San Pedro 229.31m); Santa (Bucalag ~122.98m and Casibas ~471.20m);
6.) Province of Ilocos Norte - Pasuquin (Caruan and Esfancia), Bangui (Taguipuro and Danao), Paoay (coastal brgys of Sta. Lucia, Nagbacalan ~203.56m, Masintoc ~211.77m), Laoag City (Cataban, Novotas ~151.15m, Gabu ~156.0m), Narvacan (Pantoc ~122.76m)
7.) Province of Pangasinan - Dagupan City (Bonuan Gueset 176.70m)
These areas were identified with high susceptibility to coastal erosion and it may progress to very high susceptibility/critical as severe weather condition progresses.
The Marine Geological Survey Division (MGSD) of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Department of Environment and Natural Resources (MGB-DENR) has been conducting coastal geohazard assessment and mapping as part of the National Geohazards Assessment and Mapping Program. This is aimed at reducing if not totally preventing the destructive effects and impacts of the natural hazards on the coastal population.
Specifically, the programs aims to: a) identify areas that are susceptible to the different coastal geohazards and recommend mitigation options; b) determine the long-term shoreline shift and perform trend analysis based on scientific facts and field observations; c) determine the potential impact of climate change and sea level rise on the hazard prone areas; d) increase public awareness to lessen or mitigate the negative impacts of coastal geohazards and climate change; e) inform the local officials about the susceptibility for their community/municipality to the various coastal geohzards and make the information generated from the mapping available to authorities responsible for land use planning as well as for disaster preparedness, management and mitigation.
In addition, coastal inundation is likely to happen in lowlying areas as PAGASA issued gale warning to north and central Luzon accompanied by strong winds that will bring heavy downpour over northern and central Luzon provinces.
According to Pagasa “monsoon rains may trigger flash floods and landslides over the Ilocos Region, Benguet, Central Luzon and the islands of Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan.”
By: Marine Geological Survey Division