DISASTER READINESS AND

RISK REDUCTION

2nd QUARTER
Module 2

LANDSLIDE MITIGATION AND

INTERPRETING GEOHAZARD MAPS

Most Essential Learning Competencies

⚫ Interpret geological maps DRR11/12-IIa-b-30
⚫ Apply mitigation strategies to prevent loss of lives and properties DRR11/12-IIa-b-31

To the Learner
This module was specially designed to help you understand and apply the lesson
objectives. Read and follow the simple instructions as your guide.
1. Set a conducive learning space at home so you can focus on your studies.
2. Seek assistance from your parents or guardian to guide you in doing the
activities.
3. Take down important concepts and list questions you would like to ask from
your teacher.
4. Reflect and apply the concepts that you have learned.
The Writer
 Expectations
At the end of this module you are expected to:
• Enumerate landslide mitigation activities
• Describe what to do when a sinkhole appears
• Interpret geohazard maps
• Create a family preparedness plan for landslides

Pretest
Directions: Read each question carefully. WRITE THE LETTER of the answer that best
fits the question in a separate sheet of paper.

______ 1. Which is most susceptible to sinkhole?

A. Structures near a slope.
B. Land with less vegetation.
C. Areas with underlying water resources.
D. Areas with underlying dissolvable rocks

______ 2. What should be done when sinkhole appear in your property?

A. Ignore. it was not life-threatening
B. Take pictures. Unusual things are interesting.
C. Mark the property with fencing, rope or tape.
D. Retrieve all belongings before reporting the incident.

______ 3. You assumed the chairmanship of environment and natural resources as a

senator. What actions would you prioritize to ensure protection as well as
safety of people in the identified Karst areas?
i. Legislate a law on utilization of artesian systems in these areas
ii. Legislate a law on regulation of development projects in these areas
iii. Legislate a law on utilization of effective drainage systems in these areas
iv. Legislate a law on regulation of irrigation systems in these areas

A. i and ii
B. i, ii and iii
C. ii and iii
D. ii, iii and iv

______ 4. What is the best action to take to avoid the effects of landslides?
A. Increase vegetation in the slope
B. Avoid living in landslide-prone areas
C. Build retaining walls on the base of the slope
D. Improve sewage to avoid excess water to the slope

______ 5. What do you call the efforts that involving constructions and other activities
that are initiated to lessen the effects of landslide?
A. Slope reduction
B. Landslide mitigation
C. Geometric methods
D. Hydrometeorological methods

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 Looking Back
Direction: On a piece of paper, identify the term being described in each item.

1. Downward movement of slope materials

2. Forces which make the slope stable
3. Forces that make the slope materials move downward
4. Movement of slope materials characterized with a forward rotation
5. Movement of materials on a gentle slope
6. Area with limestone bedrock characterized with underground caves and streams
7. Depression in the ground caused by downward movement of soil to fill the
cavities created by dissolution of underlying rock material
8. Type of sinkhole with exposed limestone bedrock
9. Type of sinkhole that forms gradually on an area with sandy soil
10. Type of sinkhole that forms when the overlying soil cannot support its own
weight as the cavity of the dissolved bedrock increases in size.

Brief Introduction
Landslide Mitigation
Landslide mitigation involve efforts that initiated to lessen the effects of landslide. Below
are some of actions to mitigate the effects of landslides:
• Hazard Mapping – identification of places that have low, medium, and high
susceptibility to landslides
• Public information – signs and other markers are placed to inform the people
that the area is a landslide-prone area.
• Engineering interventions and slope protection activities
o Benching – excavation of slope to create benches or “steps” to decrease driving
forces by reducing the height of the slope and weight of slope material.

Figure 1.1: Benching in La Trinidad, Benguet

Source: https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/landslide/landslide-prepareness

o Retaining Walls – structures that are built to support mass of soil permanently
and prevent lateral movement of slope materials. Retaining walls also minimize
erosion at the base of the slope.

Figure 1.1: Retaining Wall in Poro, Cebu

Source: https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/landslide/landslide-prepareness

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o Ripraps – large angular stones built on the banks of bodies of water near the
slope. These are built to when constructions are done on the slope as well as
to prevent erosion of soil material during storms.

Figure 1.1: Riprap in Balut Island, Sarangani

Source: https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/landslide/landslide-prepareness

o Gabion Walls – box-like wire cages filled with rocks that is used to support
the slope and can be also used to create a new stream bank.

Figure 1.1: Gabion Walls

Source: https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/landslide/landslide-prepareness

o Shotcretes – concrete that is pumped through a hose onto a surface to

reduce weathering and to provide surface protection between blocks of rock.

Figure 1.1: Shotcrete

Source: https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/landslide/landslide-prepareness

o Coconet Bioengineering – a technique that involves the use of coco geonet that
is laid on an area where new vegetation and soil will be likely washed away by
rainwater. Coco peat is then laid on the coconet protected slope to plant
vegetation.

Figure 1.1: Coconet Bio-engineering

Source: https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/landslide/landslide-prepareness

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 o Vetiver Grass – this is a type of grass that has fast growth and has roots that
penetrate deep in the ground. This grass is widely used to stabilize slope
against soil erosion

Figure 1.1: Vetiver grass for erosion control

Source: https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/landslide/landslide-prepareness

• Landslide Early Warning Systems – these are monitoring systems that are done to
predict events before a landslides and issue hazard warnings to the community. The
Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) implements Project
DYNASLOPE: a research program for developing early warning systems using
sensors and community participation. The program is being implemented in 50 sites
in the Philippines.

What to do when sinkhole appears?

The Department of Land Resource Management of the Northern Territory Government
of Australia stated that the actions to be done when a sinkhole appears:
• Assess and address changes in the drainage system that might be causing the
sinkhole to develop.
• No immediate action needs to be taken if the sinkhole is of no threat to people,
livestock, property or infrastructure, besides fencing and ongoing monitoring the
development of the sinkhole.
• Find an expert, such as a geotechnical engineer, for advice on appropriate
methods of remediation if the sinkhole does pose a threat.

Sinkhole Risk Mitigation

• Ensure that houses and roads are not constructed on or near caves
• Never direct water towards sinkholes;
• Never dump garbage in sinkholes as this will contaminate groundwater
• Reduce soil erosion;
• Promote plant cover as bare ground leads to poor soil structure enabling cavities
to be exposed.
• Controlling subsurface dissolution and subsidence processes involved in the
generation of sinkholes
o Preventing or controlling water withdrawal and the decline of the water table
o Controlling irrigation to reduce the extra input of water into the ground.
o Using efficient drainage systems and diverting surface drainage (Zhou, 2007
as cited by Gutiérrez et al., 2014).
o Filling cavities in the rock or soil by grouting (Kannan, 1999 as cited by
Gutiérrez et al., 2014)
o Large cavities may be filled with rock fills through shafts or large diameter
boreholes (Milanovic, 2000 as cited by Gutiérrez et al., 2014).
o Improving the ground by compaction grouting to increase the strength and
bearing capacity of the soils

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 Activity 1
INTERPRETING GEOLOGICAL HAZARD MAP
Look at the geological hazard map from the Mines
and Geosciences Bureau below. Analyze the map
by looking at the legends of the map and answer
the guide questions. Write your answers in a
separate sheet of paper

Guide questions:

1. What is the map all about?

________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

2. What does each color in the map signify?

________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

3. Identify an area that has high susceptibility to

landslides
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

4. Identify two areas that have moderate

susceptibility to landslides
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

5. Identify two areas that have low susceptibility

to landslides
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Figure 1.2 Map Legends

Source: DENR-MGB. (2010). Hazard Maps.
Retrieved August 27, 2020, from
https://cambridgevillage.files.wordpress.com
/2013/12/quezon-city_lslide_flood.jpg

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 Figure 1.2 Geological Hazard Map of Pilar, Bohol
Source: DENR-MGB. (2010). Hazard Maps. Retrieved August 27, 2020, from
https://cambridgevillage.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/quezon-city_lslide_flood.jpg

Activity 2
FAMILY PREPAREDNESS PLAN FOR LANDSLIDES

Assume that you and your family reside in an area that is susceptible to rainfall-induced
landslide hazards. Copy the template in a piece of paper template and create a family
preparedness plan for landslides. Examples and guides to fill-out the template are
italicized.

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I. DISASTER RISK SITUATION OF THE FAMILY
a. Hazard Situation
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

b. Members of the family and assignment

Family Member Age Sex Health Condition Capacity and Role (ex.
(indicate allergies, Can provide first aid for
medications taken, etc.) injured family member)

II. PREPAREDNESS PLAN

End Goal (What is your goal in preparation for landslide hazard):
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Disaster Action Time Lead Resources

Phase Frame Person Needed
Preparedness
(What actions
would you do
to increase
the
knowledge
and
capacities of
the family in
preparation
for
landslides?)
Prevention
and
Mitigation
(What actions
would the
family do
advance to
avoid and/or
decrease
adverse
impacts of
landslides?)

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 Response
(What actions
would be
done by the
family for
survival
directly after
the disaster?)

Recovery
(What actions
would be
done by the
family to
restore
normal level
of functioning
or to return to
their ‘normal
lives’?)

Check Your Understanding

Directions: On a piece of paper, write “T” if the action or concept in the item is a true,
otherwise write “H” if the action or concept in the item is a false

1. Sinkholes must be filled with garbage

2. Assess the drainage which may be causing the sinkhole to develop
3. Promote plant cover in slopes
4. Water can be directed to sinkholes
5. Fence around sinkholes if it does not impose immediate threat
6. The public needs not to be informed about landslide-prone areas
7. Benching in slopes increases the weight of slope materials
8. Ripraps can be used to prevent stream bank erosion
9. Vetiver is not a suitable plant for slope protection against erosion
10. Early warning systems issue advise and information to the public regarding
landslide hazards

Remember
• Landslide mitigation involve efforts that initiated to lessen the effects of landslide
which include hazard mapping, public information, engineering interventions to
protect slopes, and early-warning systems
• Sinkhole mitigation involve efforts to lessen the effects of sinkholes and
preventive measures to ensure that factors that will aggravate the development
of sinkholes will be controlled.

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 Posttest
Directions: Read each question carefully. WRITE THE LETTER of the answer that best
fits the question in a separate sheet of paper.

______ 1. Which is most susceptible to sinkhole?

A. Structures near a slope.
B. Land with less vegetation.
C. Areas with underlying water resources.
D. Areas with underlying dissolvable rocks

______ 2. What should be done when sinkhole appear in your property?

A. Ignore. it was not life-threatening
B. Take pictures. Unusual things are interesting.
C. Mark the property with fencing, rope or tape.
D. Retrieve all belongings before reporting the incident.

______ 3. You assumed the chairmanship of environment and natural resources as a

senator. What actions would you prioritize to ensure protection as well as
safety of people in the identified Karst areas?
i. Legislate a law on utilization of artesian systems in these areas
ii. Legislate a law on regulation of development projects in these areas
iii. Legislate a law on utilization of effective drainage systems in these areas
iv. Legislate a law on regulation of irrigation systems in these areas

A. i and ii
B. i, ii and iii
C. ii and iii
D. ii, iii and iv

______ 4. What is the best action to take to avoid the effects of landslides?
A. Increase vegetation in the slope
B. Avoid living in landslide-prone areas
C. Build retaining walls on the base of the slope
D. Improve sewage to avoid excess water to the slope

______ 5. What do you call the efforts that involving constructions and other man-
made activities that are initiated to lessen the effects of landslide?
A. Slope reduction
B. Landslide mitigation
C. Geometric methods
D. Hydrometeorological methods

Reflection
What do you think is the best preventive measure for landslides and sinkholes? Explain
your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

REFERENCES:
Parkash Surya (2019): Landslide Preparedness Guidelines for Safety of Buildings on Slopes; published by National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry
of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi-110001, India, pages 80
Gutiérrez, F., Parise, M., De Waele, J., & Jourde, H. (2014). A review on natural and human-induced geohazards and impacts in karst. Earth-Science
Reviews, 138, 61–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2014.08.002
Indiana Karst Conservancy. (n.d.). Retrieved August 28, 2020, from http://ikc.caves.org/
PHIVOLCS (n.d.) DYNASLOPE Project. Retrieved August 27, 2020, from https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/landslide/dynaslope-project
PHIVOLCS (n.d.) Landslide Prepareness. Retrieved August 27, 2020, from https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/landslide/landslide-prepareness
DPWH DO. 06 s. 2012 DPWH Standard Generic Specification for Coco net Bio-Engineering Solutions, Item 622

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