it's not my fault-line!
I learned a truly valuable lesson the other day; and that is, before you buy a piece of property (house and/or lot) in Metro Manila (or any part of the Philippines, for that matter) make sure to drop by the PHIVOLCS office along C.P. Garcia Avenua in UP Diliman. Go to the Geologic Disaster Awareness and Preparedness Division office (2nd floor) and ask questions, specifically about the Valley Fault System (VFS).
The VFS or Marikina Valley Fault is a system of faultlines that stretch across the eastern side of Metro Manila (it goes as far as San Jose del Monte in the North, and Muntinlupa in the South). "The Marikina Valley Fault, located in the eastern part of the study area, is the fault expected to cause the largest impact in the metropolis. Recent studies revealed that the Valley Fault caused at least 2, perhaps 4, earthquakes within the last 1400 years, the approximate return period is less than 500 years, and no event along the West Valley Fault is not known after the 16th century." (source: MMEIRS)
Actually, you could ask your broker or the developer of your property to obtain an active fault certification (or an assessment of hazards in areas adjacent to active faults and active volcanoes. According to the geologist I talked to, the rule is there should be a set-back of at least 5 meters from both sides of the existing fault to be on the safe side, so to speak. Otherwise, your structure (building or house) could suffer from the fault ruptures. But I also gathered that it is not a guarantee that you won't be affected by a movement in the VFS. According to the MMEIRS, "IF the VFS moves, a M7.2 earthquake CAN be generated. This could produce ground shaking up to Intensity VIII or IX in Metro Manila." So it is important that the structures we build are capable of withstanding this kind of event.
I was looking at the VFS map and realized that it ran right smack in the middle of the subdivision we were eyeing. To say that I was disappointed is an understatement because I really liked the neighborhood and the price of the property was relatively cheap. But then again the reason why it was soooo affordable was probably because it had a secret: a secret fault.
The VFS has not really exhibited any movement for the past thousands of years so I could be just a little tad paranoid when I imagine an-8 magnitude earthquake totally destroying my dream house while I'm peacefully sleeping on my bed in the middle of the night.
But the Earth is changing; something's up. If you could just be a little bit more aware of what's happening in the world (not just in the Philippines), you would probably notice that the Earth is gearing up for something big. I feel that one cannot really escape the eventuality (or possibility) that even the mighty dinosaurs succumbed to, but at least we could make better informed decisions about our lives for the time we have left.
The VFS or Marikina Valley Fault is a system of faultlines that stretch across the eastern side of Metro Manila (it goes as far as San Jose del Monte in the North, and Muntinlupa in the South). "The Marikina Valley Fault, located in the eastern part of the study area, is the fault expected to cause the largest impact in the metropolis. Recent studies revealed that the Valley Fault caused at least 2, perhaps 4, earthquakes within the last 1400 years, the approximate return period is less than 500 years, and no event along the West Valley Fault is not known after the 16th century." (source: MMEIRS)
Actually, you could ask your broker or the developer of your property to obtain an active fault certification (or an assessment of hazards in areas adjacent to active faults and active volcanoes. According to the geologist I talked to, the rule is there should be a set-back of at least 5 meters from both sides of the existing fault to be on the safe side, so to speak. Otherwise, your structure (building or house) could suffer from the fault ruptures. But I also gathered that it is not a guarantee that you won't be affected by a movement in the VFS. According to the MMEIRS, "IF the VFS moves, a M7.2 earthquake CAN be generated. This could produce ground shaking up to Intensity VIII or IX in Metro Manila." So it is important that the structures we build are capable of withstanding this kind of event.
I was looking at the VFS map and realized that it ran right smack in the middle of the subdivision we were eyeing. To say that I was disappointed is an understatement because I really liked the neighborhood and the price of the property was relatively cheap. But then again the reason why it was soooo affordable was probably because it had a secret: a secret fault.
The VFS has not really exhibited any movement for the past thousands of years so I could be just a little tad paranoid when I imagine an-8 magnitude earthquake totally destroying my dream house while I'm peacefully sleeping on my bed in the middle of the night.
But the Earth is changing; something's up. If you could just be a little bit more aware of what's happening in the world (not just in the Philippines), you would probably notice that the Earth is gearing up for something big. I feel that one cannot really escape the eventuality (or possibility) that even the mighty dinosaurs succumbed to, but at least we could make better informed decisions about our lives for the time we have left.
posted by soulcraftwriter at 9:55 AM
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