The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
In the wake of the recent series of earthquakes that have shaken the country, the provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya, in partnership with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), plans to install a Strong Motion Station (SMS) at the provincial capitol in Bayombong to strengthen earthquake monitoring and disaster preparedness efforts.
The initiative follows recent quakes and aftershocks in Davao Oriental and Cebu, underscoring the urgent need to upgrade seismic monitoring and improve infrastructure resilience nationwide.
Unlike conventional seismographs that detect minor tremors, an SMS is designed to record intense ground shaking during earthquakes. It is equipped with accelerographs that measure ground motion in three directions, providing vital data for hazard assessment, earthquake research, and the construction of quake-resilient structures.
Nueva Vizcaya Governor Jose “Jing” Gambito said they have requested the installation of the station near the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) in Bayombong to strengthen proactive and science-based disaster preparedness.
“We are investing in stronger earthquake monitoring as part of our preparedness efforts. This station will give us real-time data to protect our communities and guide safer infrastructure across Nueva Vizcaya,” Gambito said.
PDRRMO chief Robert Corpuz added that the solar-powered SMS will cover a 15-square-meter area within the PDRRMO compound near the municipal hall, with a detection radius of 100 kilometers.
“The station will gather crucial data to support early warning systems and post-event analysis. It will also help identify local soil types and site-specific ground responses, which the Provincial Engineering Office can use to improve building designs and ensure structural safety,” Corpuz explained.
This will be the second Strong Motion Station in Nueva Vizcaya, following the installation of the first unit in Aritao town, located northwest of the provincial capitol. TRACY CABRERA