This document summarizes a survey of a 250m stretch of highway in Shrine Hills, Davao City. It finds that the sediment layers in the area are unstable and prone to landslides, especially during heavy rain or earthquakes. Recent events like rock falls and landslides have already damaged properties and infrastructure. The conclusion recommends preserving Shrine Hills as a protected area given its environmental and economic benefits, and locating future development outside of hazard-prone areas.

1. ROAD SURVEY Matina Shrine Hills Gimoto, Lilibeth P. Huelva, Marco Julio

2. Introduction Structural geology is the study of the three-dimensional distribution of rock units with respect to their deformational histories. The primary goal of structural geology is to use measurements of present-day rock geometries to uncover information about the history of deformation (strain) in the rocks, and ultimately, to understand the stress field that resulted in the observed strain and geometries. This understanding of the dynamics of the stress field can be linked to important events in the regional geologic past; a common goal is to understand the structural evolution of a particular area with respect to regionally widespread patterns of rock deformation (e.g., mountain building, rifting) due to plate tectonics.

3. Location We surveyed a 250 meters cemented highway along city road in Shrine Hills, Matina, Davao City which consist a total of 2,000 square meters. It is a commercial lot where many telecommunication towers, television and radio stations located. Shrine Hills is 1 kilometer away going to GAP (a leisure park) and only 24 meters frontage to the city road. It is good for residential to avoid noise and pollution of the city.

4. Observation

5. Findings The sediments in the area are unstable. Every layer was formed in ancient times under the sea and is of a different type. Some are fine sand or clay, some are coarser, and some are pebbles or broken sea corals. All these different layers will react differently; once they are exposed to or soaked with water. They will begin to slide over each other. Nature always balances out and rearranges itself to lower levels because of gravity. Luckily, trees, greenery and existing rock formations, all slow down this process.

6. Findings But by cutting trees, cutting rock-formations to build roads and houses, changing the natural waterways, we risk triggering a speedy natural re-balancing, which mostly involves landslides, floods, loss of properties and in the worst case loss of lives. Examples of that has been headline news in the Philippines and all over the world. Just imagine, what will happen with a combination of heavy rains and an earthquake. This could happen, since the same fault line that runs under the condemned Sports Dome, also runs partly along the Shrine Hills.

7. Our Hills very recently experienced the first signs of man-made disasters like: Juario Village: rock falls and landslides in 2009, death of a child in a chapel in 2007, more rock falls and landslides in 2006, etc… Nacilla Village: houses destroyed in 2000 and movement of the soil (sediment layers) since then.

8. Conclusion We have a landmark in the middle of the city, which is rare, green and beautiful, oxygen- producing, helping to keep local temperatures down and creating cool breezes. Which city in the world isn’t jealous of that and we might give it up. What will the future generations say about us? Will they say that we acted as real caring “City-Fathers”, by open-mindedly, resourcefully and responsibly making decisions for the good of the people? Or will they say that we light-headedly acted with dollar-signs in the eyes , thinking that no information is good information ?

9. The City Government should preserve Shrine Hills as well as the people. It is one of the many resources of Davao City that must be proud of. We should not focus on a short term income gain of the land owners. Temporary employment of the residence. Higher tax income of our government. They should choose that many people can benefit and gives us happiness forever. Let us all unite to stop further destruction of our Shrine Hills, the Green Lungs right in the middle of the city and declare it as a PROTECTED AREA.

10. Recommendations I recommend that subdivision projects shall be located within suitable sites for housing and outside hazard prone areas and protection areas as provided for by pertinent laws. Critical Areas (E.g. areas subject to flooding, landslides and those with unstable soil) must be avoided. The development should be environmental friendly and considers climate change realities. It should be beneficial to the present generation but does not compromise the rights and interests of future generation.

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