Marikina Valley Fault Line: The Ring of Fire

West Valley Fault in Metro Manila
Map showing the Marikina Valley Fault Line

The Marikina Valley Fault Line extends from San Mateo Rizal to Taguig City, p(–foul word(s) removed–)ing through densely populated areas of Makati, Marikina, Paranaque, Pasig and Taguig. Due to some misinterpretations of Marikina Valley Fault people were (–foul word(s) removed–)uming that the fault line can be found only in Marikina but in reality it affects the entire Metropolitan Manila Area.

Related Article: Marikina Valley Fault Line Threatens Metro Manila (Video)

Marikina Valley Fault have been renamed to West Valley Fault during the term of PHILVOCS Director Raymundo Punongbayan after local officials from Marikina proposed to changed the name from Marikina Valley Fault into West Valley Fault because it caused panic to residents and the business community have been severely affected.

Metropolitan Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS) was an earthquake study that was conducted and funded by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). The study that was supported by MMDA, DOST and PHILVOCS states that a major earthquake to hit Metro Manila is inevitable. MMEIRS aim was to design a plan for an earthquake impact reduction in Metro Manila.

Some prominent personalities in architecture industry have also suggested to the government of the Philippines to take the earthquake preparedness a major issue to discussed. With the recent devastation brought about by impacts of earthquake and tsunami in Japan it is now a high time for our government to prepare for the worst.

Architect Felino “Jun” Falafox Jr., from Falafox and (–foul word(s) removed–)ociates, one of the top architectural firm in the country and the rest of Asia have a proposal even before the time of President Arroyo until now the time of President Aquino. His papers entitled “Urban Planning, Architecture and Engineering to Address Hazzards: Towards Safer Towns, Cities and Communities” was an eye-opener not only for the government but for the rest of Filipinos.

Jun Falafox was the man behind those biggest projects from SM Holdings Corp. and Ayala Land Real States. Falafox have an early warning proposals to the government but until now his proposals have been ignored although in other countries such as in India his advice were worth thousands of dollars regarding urban planning.

Jun Falafox stated in an interview with Jessica Soho that the Philippines could not evade the disaster if those fault line described earlier would move. With 14 Million Metro Manila residents that squatting within the Marikina Valley Line, catastrophic disaster was awaiting.

Falafox was quoted as saying “of the two million buildings and residential structures in Metro Manila, down to informal settlers, 25 percent would be vulnerable to earthquakes, liquefaction due to earthquakes, flooding and tsunamis at the waterfront.”

Meanwhile the Pacific Ring of Fire or just plainly called Ring of Fire was an area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean wherein large number of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occured. With an estimated 452 volcanoes it was home to 90% of the world’s earthquake and 80% of the world’s worst earthquake.

With recent developments in technology and with the ingenuity of the Filipinos this serious things should be prioritize and a political will of our leaders should be put into actions, instead of conducting various investigations regarding the earthquakes why just try to listened to the experts advice.

As a concerned Filipino blogger I would like to suggest also to our government agencies in-charged to try to asks those people involved, why there were still continuous development in the areas within the Marikina Valley Fault.

Map of The Ring of Fire:

Ring of Fire
Map showing the Ring of Fire within the Pacific Belt

Leave a Comment