Philippines: Early warning system to prevent another Guinsaugon landslide

Press release

Saint Bernard – The municipality of Saint Bernard in the province of Southern Leyte in Region 8 is no stranger to climate-induced disasters such as flooding and landslides that are currently being experienced in Luzon. More than half of Saint Bernard’s 30 barangays are at risk to at least five (5) natural hazards.

Its Local Government Unit (LGU) led by Mayor Rico C. Rentuza, has, since the 2006 landslide tragedy, made great strides to become an exemplary model LGU for disaster risk reduction and management. Included in this effort, the LGU today conducted a blessing and turn-over of Day Care / Evacuation Centers and turnover ceremony of a Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS), established and provided with support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The whole-day activities commenced at Barangay Nueva Esperanza for the day care center, onwards to Barangay New Guinsaugon for the evacuation center, and Barangay Mahayag for another day care center and concluded at the MDMO office for the LEWS testing. The blessing ceremonies were officiated by parish priest Rev. Fr. Joy Catubig of Saint Isidore Parish and were attended by Olaf Neussner, GIZ-DRM Project Chief, Yolando De Guzman of GIZ, municipal mayor Hon. Rico C. Rentuza together with the Sangguniang Bayan members headed by Hon. Rachel Avendula, barangay captains and the communities.

The dual-purpose facilities funded by GIZ can serve as emergency shelters for the 644 households in the 3 barangays. As day care centers, they follow DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) standards and can accommodate pre-schoolers.

A major part of the day’s agenda is a test-run of the actual landslide sensors placed at Barangay Lipanto and Tambis 2. Local officials, guests, and representatives from GIZ had the opportunity to witness its operation at the Municipal Disaster Management Operations Center. The actual testing was communicated by the barangays by way of portable hand-held radios. They also had the opportunity to observe the tilt and acceleration data coming from barangay Lipanto and Tambis 2 where the LEWS were installed. Simultaneously, the test of the community public address system was undertaken, broadcasting a test ‘warning’ to residents during the simulation/drill. This system is also a part of the communications network set-up with GIZ support in the 7 coastal barangays of Saint Bernard to warn of impending tsunamis. Since then, the LGU of Saint Bernard has replicated the system in 3 other barangays for landslide and other hazards. Since 2008, GIZ, in cooperation with the local government of Saint Bernard led by Mayor Rentuza, has successfully operated a Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) now integrated with landslide and tsunami warnings. These early warning systems (LEWS and FEWS) have reduced the risk of casualties as Saint Bernard is extremely exposed to these hazards.

The landslide early warning system in Saint Bernard is among the first of its kind to be established in the Philippines.

The municipality of Saint Bernard lies within the Hinabian-Lawigan watershed, named after two major rivers that drain the watershed’s 4,536 hectares. According to experts, landslides in the loose rock slopes and flooding from these rivers into the plains area are triggered by excessive rainfall.