During the Resilience Information Caravan organized by the Office of Civil Defense XI, Edward Louise Orquillas, Science Research Assistant of DOST-PHIVOLCS, said that coastal uplifts formed after earthquakes are primarily composed of corals, making the ground unstable and unsafe for development.
“Base kasi sa findings namin, makikita na ang coastal uplift ay binubuo ng mga coral at hindi siya applicable na lagyan ng bahay o kahit ano,” Orquillas said.
(Based on our findings, coastal uplifts consist of corals. So it’s really not fit for building houses or any structures.)
He emphasized that these areas are highly susceptible to damage, especially during future events such as storm surges.
“Sa sobrang lambot kasi ng corals, pwede maging unbalanced yong structures na ilalagay don,” he added, warning that any construction could easily collapse.
(Since the corals are so soft, any structures you put there could end up becoming unbalanced.)
He further noted that if another earthquake occurs, these areas may rise or sink again.
Orquillas said that coastal uplifts are formed over long periods of time by earthquakes.
He recommended that LGUs consider designating these areas as protected zones.
“Pwede sigurong for research purposes pero hindi na siya pwede for land use or structural,” he said.
(Coastal uplifts might be okay for research purposes, but they’re definitely not fit for land use or building structures anymore.)
Coastal uplifts in Mindanao GeographicReference
Experts define coastal uplift as the vertical upward movement of the Earth’s crust along a coastline. This geological process permanently raises land relative to the sea, pushing the shoreline outward and exposing previously submerged seabeds.
Following the powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Mindanao on June 8, residents reported portions of the shoreline in Sarangani and Davao Occidental rising, exposing corals and areas that were once underwater.
In Sarangani and Jose Abad Santos towns, coastal uplift raised the seafloor by up to 2.5 meters and expanded shorelines, pushing back tides as far as 220 meters.
Authorities continue to remind communities to exercise caution, prioritize safety, and treat coastal uplifts as sensitive ecological and research areas rather than sites for development. (FRG/PIA Davao)