A CASE STUDY ON THE MASS

WASTING RISK IN MANDAO,

CAMARINES NORTE

Group 8
GEO01 – Earth Science

Mariano, Kyra Nicole C.

Narciso, Zephanie Ann L.
Necesito, Fredzgerald D.
Villaflores, Jireh Louise L.

Performance Task 4D

Mapúa University
Senior High School
November 2018

1.0 Location and Accessibility

GEO01 – Earth Science Group 8
A Case Study on the Mass Wasting Risk in Mandao, Camarines Norte

Mandao is a populated place and is located in the province of Camarines

Norte, Bicol, Philippines. In order to get to the said municipality, one can opt

to travel either by air or land.

Camarines Norte can be reached by air through the Pili Airport in

Camarines Sur. From the airport, a bus or a cab can be taken to Daet via

Naga City. There are no commercial flights to Camarines Norte. The nearest

commercial airport is in Naga, Camarines Sur. From Manila, it takes a 40-

minute plane ride to Naga, then take a public van or bus going to Daet,

Camarines Norte. The travel time can take up to one and a half to two hours.

Camarines Norte can also be reached by land. If a private car is used,

from Manila, take the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). Turn right at

Batangas/Lucena, exit going to Turbina, and enter Sta. Elena, Camarines

Norte. The travel time can take up to 6 hours. If a bus is taken, from Manila,

take the bus bound for Daet, Camarines Norte. The travel time can take up

to 8 hours and below are the list of different bus transportation companies

and their terminals travelling to Daet, Camarines Norte:

a. Batangas Laguna Tayabas Bus Co.

- Terminal: P. Tuazon cor. 12th St., Ali Mall, Cubao, Quezon City.

b. Inland Trailways, Inc.

- Terminals: (1) 650 EDSA, Pasay City. (2) EDSA cor. New York St.,

Cubao, Quezon City. (3) Earnshaw St. cor. F. Cayco St., Manila.

c. JB Bicol Bicol Express Line

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GEO01 – Earth Science Group 8
A Case Study on the Mass Wasting Risk in Mandao, Camarines Norte

- Terminal: 2240 Aurora Blvd., Pasay City.

d. Philtranco

- Terminal: EDSA Corner Apello Cruz St. Pasay City, Metro Manila.

e. Superlines Transportation Co. Inc.

- Terminal: A. Boni Ave. Barangka, Marikina City.

From Camarines Norte, head southeast, take the Tulay Na Lupa Road to

Pan-Philippine Highway, continue from Pan-Philippine Highway to Mercedes

then turn right in order to arrive to Mandao, Camarines Norte. The travel

time can take up to two hours.

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GEO01 – Earth Science Group 8
A Case Study on the Mass Wasting Risk in Mandao, Camarines Norte

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GEO01 – Earth Science Group 8
A Case Study on the Mass Wasting Risk in Mandao, Camarines Norte

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GEO01 – Earth Science Group 8
A Case Study on the Mass Wasting Risk in Mandao, Camarines Norte

2.0 Mass Wasting Risk

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GEO01 – Earth Science Group 8
A Case Study on the Mass Wasting Risk in Mandao, Camarines Norte

Figure 1. Landslide Susceptibility Map of Mandao Quadrangle, Camarines

Norte Province, Philippines.

There are no scenarios of mass movement in the study area based on the

Landslide Susceptibility Map of Mandao. (figure 1).

Based on the figure shown above, the study area is not risk to a

movement because in the shown figure there is no bulk movements of soil

and rock debris down slopes in response to the pull of gravity, or gradual

sinking of the Earth’s ground surface in a predominantly vertical direction.

The area of Mandao is surrounded by many areas with a moderate

susceptibility to landslides. Figure 1 shows also the areas with high

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GEO01 – Earth Science Group 8
A Case Study on the Mass Wasting Risk in Mandao, Camarines Norte

susceptibility to landslides is surrounding Mandao. There is quite a few areas

of low susceptibility to landslide that is on the upper part of Mandao.

3.0 Conclusion

Mandao is a populated place and is situated in the province of

Camarines Norte, Bicol, Philippines. The travel can either be through air or

land, to go to Mandao.

By air, the travel time will take a 40-minute plane ride from Manila to

Naga, and then 1 and a half hour or 2 hours going to Daet, Camarines Norte.

The travel time by land, using a private car, is 6 hours. By bus, it will usually

take 8 hours or more. Ride the bus for Daet, Camarines Norte, then take the

Tulay Na Lupa Road to Pan-Philippine Highway, continue from Pan-Philippine

Highway to Mercedes to reach Mandao, Camarines Norte.

Mandao has no situations of mass movement based on the Landslides

Susceptibility Map of Mandao. But it is surrounded by areas that has a high,

moderate, and low susceptibility to landslides. It is not a risk in movement

because there are no bulk movements of soil and rock debris down slopes

present. So, there are no cities affected in the risk of movement in Mandao.

4.0 Recommendation

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GEO01 – Earth Science Group 8
A Case Study on the Mass Wasting Risk in Mandao, Camarines Norte

Mass movement cannot be easily predicted because it is a natural

ongoing process that cannot be averted simply. But there are some effective

measures that can be consider to minimize the risk. In pinpointing dangerous

sites, geologist tends to look for landforms that are known to mass

movements, because mass movements in the given area have happened in

the past already, and it might happen again in the near future. Slump head

scarps, swaths of forest where trees have been tilted, piles of loose debris at

the base of hills, and a hummocky land surfaces are all indicators of mass

wasting.

If there are no evidence of recent movement, a danger can still exist. A

steep slope that hasn’t collapsed in the past doesn’t guarantee that it won’t

happen in the future. Geologists have begun identifying potential hazards by

computer programs that can evaluate factors that triggers mass wasting.

Ways that can mitigate and stabilize the slope:

● Revegetation: It will greatly enhanced the deforested area if land

owners replant the area with vegetation that sends down deep roots

and holds regolith together.

● Regrading: Regrade the over-steepened slope so it does not exceed

the angle of repose.

● Reducing subsurface water: Water weakens the material beneath a

slope and adds weight to it so improve drainage so that water does not

enter subsurface, or by removing water from the ground.

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GEO01 – Earth Science Group 8
A Case Study on the Mass Wasting Risk in Mandao, Camarines Norte

● Preventing undercutting: Areas where a river undercuts a cliff face,

engineers can divert the river. They may build an offshore breakwater

or pile riprap along the beach so it can absorb wave energy before it

strikes the cliff face.

● Constructing safety structures: It is the best way to prevent mass

wasting, in some cases. Build a structure that can be stable during a

potentially unstable slope. The danger from rock falls might decreased

by covering the road cut with a chain link fencing or by spraying road

cuts with concrete.

● Controlled blasting of unstable slopes: If the unstable ground is clear

that it is threatening an area, blasting the unstable ground is the best

solution so its movement can do no harm.

But if the mass wasting risk is potentially active in the area, the best possible

solution in many cases is avoidance: don’t build, live, and work in an area

where mass movement is at risk. Though avoidance is only possible if there

are hazards present in area.

5.0 References

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GEO01 – Earth Science Group 8
A Case Study on the Mass Wasting Risk in Mandao, Camarines Norte

[1] Philippine Island Tours. (n.y., January 18). How To Go Camarines Norte.

Retrieved from http://philippineislandtours.com/category/camarines-norte/?

v=a25496ebf095

[2] Mines and Geosciences Bureau. (n.d.). Landslide Susceptibility Map of

Mandao Quadrangle, Camarines Norte Province, Philippines. Retrieved from

http://gdis.mgb.gov.ph/arcgis/rest/services/Index/MapServer/0/403/attachme

nts/170

[3] Steven Earle. (2016, August 12). Physical Geology: Preventing, Delaying,

Monitoring, and Mitigating Mass Wasting. Retrieved from

https://opentextbc.ca/geology/chapter/15-3-preventing-delaying-monitoring-

and-mitigating-mass-wasting/

[4] Khattak, O. (n.d.). How Can We Protect Against Mass Movement

Disasters? Retrieved from http://geologylearn.blogspot.com/2015/12/how-

can-we-protect-against-mass.html

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