Although there are no known active faults in Palawan, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said earthquakes and tsunamis could still affect the province from nearby faults and trenches.
In collaboration with the municipality of Quezon, Palawan province, Phivolcs organized a seminar to orient 61 participants—consisting of municipal and barangay officials, representatives from the Quezon Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Department of Education, and Department of Science and Technology Provincial Science and Technology Office-Palawan on earthquake and tsunami risks, tsunami facts, tsunami community preparedness.
The activity deepened participants’ knowledge of geological hazards and equipped them with a better understanding of how they can prepare and respond as a community.
Quezon Mayor Joselito Ayala encouraged the participants to play a more active role in disaster preparedness.
During the seminar, Phivolcs also presented the 116th seismic station installed in Quezon town.
The solar-powered satellite-telemetered seismic station is equipped with an earthquake monitoring and satellite data transmission system and can transmit seismic records to Phivolcs’ Data Receiving Center in Quezon City in near real-time.
They also discussed Republic Act 10344 or the Risk Reduction and Preparedness Equipment Protection Act of 2012 to highlight the role of the community in keeping these equipments secure.
Phivolcs expressed its gratitude to the host municipality, especially its people and the private lot owner who leased the area where the seismic station is located.