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The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) here focused on landslide which ranked number one as a major hazard that affected the province within three years from 2003-2006 with 2 major earthquakes experienced, particularly in Pacific and Panaon areas.

In a meeting attended by the PDCC cluster chairmen held Friday at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall here, Virginia LiM-Cruz, PDCC Point Person disclosed that the disaster contingency plan will focus on the worst scenario in order to prepare each one before, during and after disaster.

Cruz requested a sectoral planning workshop to be set on the first week of December in order to plan out things, such as what to do when an event occurs, identifying the needs, who's in-charge of duties, among others.

Among the clusters identified that will play a vital role in the contingency planning are mentioned as follows: Health, and sanitation headed by the Provincial health Office (PHO); Transportation to be led by Provincial Engineer's Office (PEO); Information and communication headed by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA); Search and Rescue headed by the Provincial Disaster Mnagement Office (PDMO); Shelter, Camp Management and Food and Non-food management to be led by the Provincial Social Welafre and Development Office (PSWDO); and Security by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

During the disaster, root causes will be identified and evaluated, the early warning system, triggering factors and the disaster risk measures from short term to long term will also be discussed.

Cruz revealed that there are about 104 barngays throughout the province that are considered high to landslide susceptibility, 102 barangays with medium, while 200 barangays are low susceptibility.

Based on a report gathered, Southern Leyte is susceptible to landslides due to four major factors like the unusual heavy rain, numerous faults, badly broken rocks and steep slopes together with the absence of effective vegetation cover are also considered.