REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF VOLCANOLOGY AND SEISMOLOGY

PHIVOLCS Bldg., C.P. Garcia Ave., University of the Philippines Campus, Diliman, Quezon City
Tels. (+63-2) 426-1468 to 79 loc. 112; (+63-2) 926-2611
Fax: (+63-2) 929-8366

PRESS RELEASE
VALLEY FAULT SYSTEM ATLAS LAUNCH
FOR EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS
Manila, Philippines, 18 May 2015
The Valley Fault System (VFS) Atlas, a handbook of large scale maps showing in detail areas
traversed by the Valley Fault System, was launched and distributed to local government
officials at 9am on May 18, 2015 at the 2/F Auditorium, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Building, C.P. Garcia Avenue, UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City.
In 2012, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) revisited the VFS as one of the component activities of
the Australian Aid (AusAid) Program-funded GMMA Ready Project under the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) and implemented by member agencies of the National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The mapping efforts
discovered new fault traces and validated previously mapped traces of the VFS.
The VFS is an active fault system in the Greater Metro Manila Area (GMMA) composed of two
fault segments: the 10 km long East Valley Fault (EVF) in Rizal and the 100 km long West
Valley Fault (WVF) runs through different cities and towns of Bulacan, Rizal, Metro Manila,
Cavite and Laguna. The West Valley Fault can generate a large earthquake with M 7.2 which
poses threat to peoples lives, buildings and infrastructures, and livelihood.
Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., Director of DOST-PHIVOLCS, says that Key to peoples
awareness and preparedness for earthquakes, appropriate land use, contingency planning for
disaster response, and design of houses, buildings and infrastructures, is the location of active
faults. The Valley Fault System Atlas was conceptualized as a handy reference for everyone to
serve as a guide in making sure that areas traversed by active faults are avoided as sites of
houses and structures and considered in various mitigation and response actions to enhance
the safety and resilience of communities to strong earthquake events.
The importance of the VFS Atlas to local governments is stressed by NDRRMC Executive
Director Undersecretary Alexander P. Pama. He states that Through the publication of this
Atlas, we have taken a leap forward to reducing risk from earthquake. This tool will help us in
our national DRRM effort to build safer, disaster-resilient and climate-change adaptive
communities throughout the country.
UNDP advocates an integrated and systematic risk management approach to prevent or
lessen the impacts of disasters. Nobody can accurately predict exactly when or where an
earthquake will occur- the best we can do is to be informed where the risks and vulnerabilities
potentially are and prepare and plan ahead for these. VFS Atlas is a critical tool to support
development planning and programming. If development is not risk informed, it is not
sustainable, say UNDP Philippines Country Director Titon Mitra.
The launching was graced by local chief executives and Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Officers from Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna and project
partners from Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
(MMDA), Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), National Mapping and Resource
Information Authority (NAMRIA), Climate Change Commission, Housing and Land Use
Regulatory Board (HLURB), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Contact information:
For clarification about the VFS Atlas, queries can be directed to
Renato U. Solidum, Jr., Director-PHIVOLCS - 926 26 11
For information about the event, please contact:
Ester Garrido/Princess Decierdo- 927 45 24
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)-Department of Science and Technology
(DOST)