Impact of Natural Hazards in Some
Key Cities in the Philippines
Session 1
Safe Cities
Module 2: Philippines Application
1
Background
 The Philippine archipelago has a total land area of
115,800 square kilometers
 It has 115 cities and 1,496 municipalities
 Metro Manila is the seat of Philippine Government and
is composed of 15 cities
Safe Cities
Module 2: Philippines Application
2
Hazards
 An average of 22 typhoons enter the Philippine
Area of Responsibility each year, and 5 of which
may be destructive
 About 5 earthquakes a day are felt in the country.
That is about 1,825 quakes a year!
 From 1999 to 2003, 39 weather disturbances were
experienced by the country
Safe Cities
Module 2: Philippines Application
3
CAMANAVA
 CAMANAVA stands for Caloocan City, Malabon City,
Navotas City and Valenzuela City
 These areas are high prone to flooding and flashfloods
due to its topographical location and rapid urbanization
Safe Cities
Module 2: Philippines Application
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Marikina City
 Marikina City is located along the valley in eastern
Metro Manila. It is composed of 14 barangays, 12
of which lie along the Marikina River.
 Marikina River is a tributary of the Pasig River
 Marikina City’s population is approximately
480,000 to 500,000
Safe Cities
Module 2: Philippines Application
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Baguio City
 Baguio City is located at the Cordillera Autonomous
Region (CAR). It is prone to soil erosions, landslides
and earthquakes.
 16 July 1990 Earthquake in Baguio City
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401 dead
1,103 injured
223 missing
3,668 families rendered homeless
Safe Cities
Module 2: Philippines Application
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Other Key Cities Prone to Natural Hazards
 Ormoc City (Region VIII)
 Flooding and Flashfloods
 Dagupan City (Region I)
 Flooding
 Cabanatuan City (Region III)
 Liquefaction
 Butuan City (CARAGA)
 Flooding
Safe Cities
Module 2: Philippines Application
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Urban Growth
 Urban Growth has aggravated the effects of natural
hazards in previous years
 Metro Manila’s population is about 10.5 million
 Population Annual Growth Rate
 City of Manila is 3.6%
 Quezon City is 4%
 Caloocan City is 3.5%
Safe Cities
Module 2: Philippines Application
8
Rapid Urbanization
 Rural – urban migrants has boosted the percentage
of squatters in Metro Manila. In 1980, National
Housing Authority reported that one out of four Metro
Manila resident is a squatter.
 Rapid urban growth paved way for these informal
settlers to build houses along the river banks and
coastal areas.
 Rapid Urbanization has tremendously aggravated the
effects of natural hazards
Safe Cities
Module 2: Philippines Application
9
Payatas Dump Site Tragedy
 This tragedy is dubbed as “trashslide” or “garbalanche”
and happened only in the Philippines.
 This is a concrete picture of the hazard incurred due to
urban migrants.
 This tragedy resulted to 224 deaths and 38 missing
persons.
Safe Cities
Module 2: Philippines Application
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