The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS), through the Accelerated Earthquake Multi-Hazards Mapping and Risk Assessment – Deterministic Liquefaction and Tsunami Hazard Mapping of Selected Low-lying Areas in the Philippines using GIS, Al, and Geophysical Techniques (ACER-DeLTA) Project, will officially turn over the city-scale liquefaction and tsunami hazard maps of General Santos City on 28 May 2025 at the ICON Venue and Suites. These maps are the latest outputs of the DeLTA Project, developed using advanced geophysical, geotechnical, and AI-driven methodologies to support disaster preparedness and urban planning.

The turnover is a timely and critical information-sharing event following the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck southern Mindanao on November 17, 2023. The offshore earthquake, located 28 kilometers southwest of Sarangani, Davao Occidental, generated significant ground shaking felt at PEIS VI–VIII (Very Strong to Very Destructive) in General Santos City. The quake caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including collapsed ceilings in major commercial centers, severe cracking in seaport facilities, and structural damage to schools, government buildings, and homes. It also triggered liquefaction, landslides, and a tsunami. These events underscored the urgent need for accurate, localized hazard assessments. 

These higher resolution and more detailed hazard maps represent a significant advancement in risk evaluation, made possible through innovations in parallel computing, AI-based landform classification, and high-resolution GIS analysis. By equipping local government units, planners, and emergency managers with these tools, the DeLTA Project supports science-based decision-making for safer, more resilient communities.

The ACER-DeLTA Project focuses on the rapid development of liquefaction and tsunami hazard maps for vulnerable low-lying areas in the Philippines. The turnover marks an important step in building long-term resilience in General Santos City and other high-risk areas nationwide.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Teresito C. Bacolcol
Director

DOST-PHIVOLCS
(+632) 8-426-1468 to 79
teresito.bacolcol@phivolcs.dost.gov.ph