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Majayjay Risk Assessment

Mount Banahaw is a stratovolcano located in Luzon, Philippines that is sacred to the local Tagalog people. It last erupted in 1909 and has a hydrothermal system producing several hot springs nearby. Majayjay, located near the mountain, is at risk from lahars, pyroclastic flows, and ashfall in the event of a future eruption that could damage infrastructure like schools and churches, impact agriculture, and harm public health. Preparedness measures are needed to protect at-risk communities.

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283 views42 pages

Majayjay Risk Assessment

Mount Banahaw is a stratovolcano located in Luzon, Philippines that is sacred to the local Tagalog people. It last erupted in 1909 and has a hydrothermal system producing several hot springs nearby. Majayjay, located near the mountain, is at risk from lahars, pyroclastic flows, and ashfall in the event of a future eruption that could damage infrastructure like schools and churches, impact agriculture, and harm public health. Preparedness measures are needed to protect at-risk communities.

Uploaded by

Morgan Paidman
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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History of Mount Banahaw

Local Community in
Majayjay, Laguna

Risk Assessment
Mount Banahaw (or Banahao) is located on
the island of Luzon, some 80 km SE of
Manila. At 2,158 m high, it is the tallest of a
group of a stratovolcano complex that
included San Cristobal (1,470 M) and
Banahaw de Lucban (1,870 M).
As the largest mountain in this part of Luzon,
Banahaw is revered as a sacred mountain with the
land surrounding it considered to be holy land by
the Tagalog people living in its vicinity. Sacred
mountains and holy lands attract a big number of
religious pilgrims. Large mountains also attract
large numbers of climbers. The two groups keep
local businesses very happy and busy.
There are multiple hot springs in the vicinity of Mt.
Banahaw, which means it has an active
hydrothermal system.
• Tiaong-San Pablo hot/warm springs
• Bakia warm/cold springs
• Sampaloc warm springs
• Mainit hot/warm springs
• Cagsiay hot/warm springs
One of the problems PHIVOLCS has with Banahaw
is the sheer amount human traffic on what is
potentially still a very dangerous mountain. They
are attempting to change the way the volcano is
viewed locally by calling it Banahaw Volcano
rather than Mount Banahaw.
The first major eruption on record
happened in the year 1730, which, by
coincidence, was the same year the
rehabilitation of Pope Saint Gregory the
Great church in Majayjay was completed at
the cost of 26,000 Mexican dollars under
Father Jose Puerterllano.
The devastation was so great that it was
reported to have caused a 600 feet deep
crater at the summit and flattened 3.5 kms
of the mountain peak. The crater lake was
drained and it created mudflows. It is
fortunate for Majayjay that the eruption
occurred at the Quezon side facing Sariaya.
There were other historic eruptions
recorded with explosions and
lahars/mudflows in 1743, 1843, and 1909.
The last recorded eruption was in 1909,
approximately one hundred and fourteen
years ago.
Majayjay is a municipality in the
landlocked province of Laguna. The
municipality has a land area of 69.58
square kilometers or 26.86 square
miles which constitutes 3.61% of
Laguna's total area.
Its population as determined by the 2020
Census was 27,893. This represented 0.82%
of the total population of Laguna province, or
0.17% of the overall population of the
CALABARZON region. Based on these figures,
the population density is computed at 401
inhabitants per square kilometer or 1,038
inhabitants per square mile.
Currently, 4,061.45 hectares is dedicated for
agricultural and agro-industrial uses. This is
approximately fifty-five percent (55%) of
Majayjay’s total land area. Out of this, 975.97
hectares (13.29%) is planted with rice, while
2,086.27 hectares (28.41%) is for coconut,
which is considered as the major crop of
Majayjay.
Majayjay's tourist spots include:
Taytay/Majayjay Falls
Mt. Banahaw
Saint Gregory Church
Tulay Pigue (featured in El Filibusterismo)

They also have a festival named "AniLinang


Festival" held every last week of September
until the 2nd day of October as part of the
celebration of their Founding Anniversary.
A large portion (46%) of Majayjay,
Laguna are moderately susceptible
and prone to lahar flows.
Almost whole of the Municipality of
Majayjay are prone to pyroclastic
surges and flows.
In case of future eruptions, the town
may be affected by ash fallout,
depending on the scale of eruption
and prevailing wind direction at the
time of eruption. Generally, ashfall is
heavier near the active vent and
thins out indefinitely away from the
eruption center.
Large lahars can crush, abrade,
bury, or carry away almost anything
in their paths. Important buildings
such as the Saint Gregory the Great
Parish Church can be buried by
lahar flows.
Pyroclastic flows are so fast and so hot
that they can knock down, shatter, bury,
or burn anything in their path. Even small
flows can destroy buildings, flatten
forests, and scorch farmland. Pyroclastic
flows leave behind layers of debris
anywhere from less than a meter to
hundreds of meters thick.
The ash and other particles that will
be released can be harmful to human
health if inhaled. They can cause
respiratory problems and aggravate
existing health conditions.
Many health facilities will be covered
by lahar or pyroclastic materials if Mt.
Banahaw will explode.

And, there will be casualties if the


people are not prepared.
The eruption can release large
amounts of gases such as sulfur
dioxide and carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere. These gases can react
with other compounds in the air and
lead to the formation of acid rain and
smog.
If Mt. Banahaw will explode, the farmers in
Majayjay (especially the coconut farmers)
will experience significant losses because
crops and other agricultural livestocks will
be affected by ashfall, lahar, and
pyroclastic materials. Public and private
sector employees will be forced to
pause/stop their jobs depending on the
severity of the explosion.
Since majority of the schools are prone to lahar
and pyroclastic flows, DepEd will declare
suspension of classes for a week or more
depending on the severity of the explosion. The
children will not benefit from this academically if
they will have their classes suspended for a long
period.

Many schools will be needing repairs and


cleaning due to lahar and pyroclastic flows.
Many tourist spots will be closed and
unavailable to the public due to
possible rehabilitations and repairs
after the explosion.

This will hurt the municipality's


economy.
Lahar and PF threat to people’s lives
can be addressed by:
1) observing or implementing legal
easement adjacent to riverbanks, as
provided in existing laws, ordinances,
and land-use plans
Lahar and PF threat to people’s lives
can be addressed by:
2) community preparedness and
evacuation plan. At-risk communities
must learn to evacuate themselves
when lahar and pyroclastic flow threats
are imminent.
Agimarc. (2020, October 1). Mount Banahaw, pi the mystic mountain.
volcanohotspot.wordpress.com.
https://volcanohotspot.wordpress.com/2020/10/01/mount-banahaw-pi-the-
mystic-mountain/

GeoRisk PH. (n.d.-a). GeoAnalyticsPH. https://geoanalytics.georisk.gov.ph/

GeoRisk PH. (n.d.-b). Hazardhunterph - Hazard Assessment at your fingertips.


HazardHunterPH - Hazard assessment at your fingertips.
https://hazardhunter.georisk.gov.ph/

Global volcanism program: Image GVP-01928. Smithsonian Institution - Global


Volcanism Program: Worldwide Holocene Volcano and Eruption Information.
(n.d.). https://volcano.si.edu/gallery/ShowImage.cfm?photo=GVP-01928

Lakansining. (2018, May 19). Mount Banahaw, 1995: Into the eye of the storm.
Lakbay ng Lakan. https://lakansining.wordpress.com/2015/08/22/mount-
banahaw-1995-into-the-eye-of-the-strom/
PhilAtlas. (n.d.). Majayjay, province of Laguna. PhilAtlas.
https://www.philatlas.com/luzon/r04a/laguna/majayjay.html

UP Resilience Institute. (2018). CDRA for Majayjay, Laguna. UP


Resilience Institute. https://resilience.up.edu.ph/projects/cdra-
majayjay/#:~:text=This%20is%20approximately%20fifty%2Dfive,th
e%20major%20crop%20of%20Majayjay.

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