Two earthquakes strike Leyte and Samar within a 3-day span

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake has struck Samar, Philippines at a depth of 61 km (37.9 miles). The quake hit at 04:30:54 UTC Wednesday 1st February 2012. The epicenter was 75 km (46 miles) NNW of Guiuan, Samar, Philippines. Witnesses say that three consecutive mild shakes took place before reaching its peak. No tsunami warning nor reports of damage or casualties were learned as of posting time.

This follows a magnitude 4.9-earthquake that struck the province of Leyte last January 29. The weak quake epicenter was 8 kms southwest of Bagacay, at a depth of 606 km. No reports of damage to property or life were accounted.

DA, PNOC-EDC tie up to support Leyte vegetable farming project

The province of Leyte is set to contest Cordillera's position as the country's premier salad bowl. An area as vast as 20,000 ha in the Tongonan mountain range will be allotted to the farm-and-harvest activity of high-value semi-temperate vegetables.

According to Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala , the Department of Agriculture (DA) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) last December 12, 2011 with the PNOC-Energy Development Corp. (PNOC-EDC), among other institutions and groups of Leyte farmers to press Cordillera in its crown as top salad greens producer.

Under the MOA, the DA and the PNOC-EDC will invest P92 million in the next five years to develop fit farming grounds enclosing the Leyte Geothermal Production Field (LGPF). The investment is said to benefit 5,600 farmers composing 23 farmers’ groups in Kananga town and Ormoc City.

The production area is 500 to 800 meters above sea level. It extends from Ormoc City to Kananga town. It will be managed by a five-year initiative referred to as the Agri-Pinoy integrated and diversified program for the development of the ‘OK’ (Ormoc City and Kananga) upland range.

With supporting reports from Manila Bulletin

Impending Tacloban landslide addressed, residents relocated

Residents in Tacloban City have expressed fear to what is happening in some barangays. It is reported that large rocks and other debris have started falling on houses. The incident has served as warning for the killer landslide in Compostela Valley, which could happen anytime soon in the city.

 

Due to this, authorities have started evacuating residents from Bgy. 56 in Upper Nula Tula and Bgy. 100. Residents from Bgy. 56 have already been relocated in Bgy. 74, to prevent the loss of lives if such a disaster takes place.

The rock falls were believed to be caused by the continuous downpour brought in by the tail-end of the cold front. Heavy rainfall has caused flashflood in Bgy. Luan, Dulag, Bgy. Inapayan, Isabela in Leyte, and 5 other barangays in the said province, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council expressed.

Government officials and members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) have met in Leyte as a joint response to stop the unwanted loss of lives and damage to property that these disasters will wreck havoc.

Moderate 5.7-magnitude earthquake hits off Guiuan, Eastern Samar

A moderate 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Tuesday off the coast of Guiuan, Samar, the US Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center (USGS NEIC) reported.

The tremor was centered in waters off Samar, about 63 kilometers northeast of the town of Mercedes in  Eastern Samar, and 93 kilometers (57 miles) east of Tacloban City, Leyte. It hit at 8:55 p.m. local time on Tuesday, and had an estimated depth of 42 kilometers, according to PHIVOLCS.

The quake was felt felt at Intensity 5 in Borongan City and Guiuan, Intensity 4 in Tacloban City, Palo and Tolosa, all in Leyte; Intensity 3 in Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte and Catarman, Northern Samar; and Intensity 2 in Naval, Biliran.

As of posting, no casualties or damage to property have been reported.