Geo-Hazard Assessment and Mapping in Barangay Kiorao, Kibawe, Bukidnon

Abstract

Geohazards pose a significant threat to human life and property in the Philippines, and Barangay Kiorao, Bukidnon is no exception. Predominantly expansive soils in the barangay are susceptible to swelling and shrinking with changes in moisture content, and three sampling areas were identified to be collapsible. These soil conditions, combined with the barangay’s location in a seismically active region, render it vulnerable to a variety of geohazards, including landslides and earthquakes. This study aimed to generate a geohazard map of the barangay to inform land use planning and disaster risk reduction efforts. Slope stability analysis revealed that the slopes in Barangay Kiorao are stable under semi-saturated and fully saturated conditions, even with friction angles as low as 0º. This suggests that the slopes have a “high” to a “very high” stability even under extreme conditions. Despite being safe from ground rupture, liquefaction, and tsunami, Barangay Kiorao is susceptible to strong ground shaking during earthquakes. The seismic hazard assessment identified areas in the Barangay that are at risk of experiencing strong ground motions during earthquakes. The resulting geohazard map scaled at 1:200,000 integrated these findings, marking areas susceptible to landslide and earthquakes.