Pinatubo danger not yet over
    Amid climate change threats

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    CLARK FREEPORT — Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) chief Renato Solidum said here over the weekend that danger from Mt. Pinatubo is not over yet, amid dangers of the so-called “siyamsiyam” rains that have never been experienced so far in the area of the volcano since its 1991 eruption.

    In a forum here, Solidum warned communities near lahar-silted channels emanating from Mt. Pinatubo to be cautious this rainy season as he noted the possibility that climate change could yet bring unusual rainfall that could remobilize lahar debris already deposited on river channels emanating from the volcano.

    “Siyam-siyam” is a term used by Filipinos to refer to nine days of nonstop rains similar to what happened in 1971 that inundated almost the entire Central Luzon.

    Solidum stressed the need to maintain diking systems built by the government to protect populated areas from being buried by lahar flows from the channels. “The dikes have to be continuously maintained and the channels should be regularly dredged,” he said.

    In Pampanga, he urged the monitoring of the upper section of the Pasig-Potrero River where a U-shaped megadike built during the term of former Pres. Fidel Ramos prevented the capital city of San Fernando from being swamped by lahar flows.

    “Watch out for the behavior of lahar in the area called Delta 5 near the Porac-Angeles road where threat could emanate at the Pasig-Potrero,” he said, adding that lahar sand quarrying in the area should be supervised to help direct the flow of the river away from the diking system.

    Solidum said folk who were allowed to build homes within the megadike are facing serious danger, adding that even those outside the diking system in the Pasig-Potrero also face danger, although to a lesser degree during a “siyam-siyam” scenario.

    “We don’t want to cause panic but the danger is not yet over,” he stressed.

    Solidum noted that in Zambales area, portions of anti-lahar dikes built along the Marella, Balin-Baquero, and Bucao-Sto. Tomas rivers have almost filled up and could endanger nearby areas.

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