EARTHQUAKE

FAULTS
▪ TYPES OF FAULTS
▪ ACTIVE FAULTS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
▪ ACTIVE FAULTS IN REGION 5
▪ DOST FAULT FINDER
▪ FINDING THE DISTANCE TO
THE NEAREST FAULTLINE
WHAT IS A FAULT?
In an earthquake context,
fracture or
a fault is a
zone of fractures in
the Earth's crust where
blocks of rock move
relative to each other.
TYPES OF
FAULT
 TYPES OF FAULT
NORMAL REVERSE STRIKE-SLIP
occurs when tensional forces Is one in which one side of the Is a near-vertical fracture in
pull the Earth's crust apart, fault, the hanging wall, moves the Earth’s crust where blocks
causing the upper block up and over the other side, the of rock have moved
(hanging wall) to slide down foot wall. horizontally past each other,
relative to the lower block caused by shearing forces.
(footwall) along an inclined
fault plane.
Active faults
In the
philippines
ACTIVE FAULTS IN PH
The Philippines is An active fault is a Understanding active
situated in the Pacific fracture in the Earth's crust faults is crucial for
Ring of Fire, making it along which movement has disaster preparedness
one of the most occurred during the recent and mitigation efforts
earthquake-prone geological past, and where in the country.
countries in the world. earthquakes are likely to
occur in the future.
Major Active Fault Systems in
the Philippines
PHILIPPINE FAULT SYSTEM (PFS)
This is the most prominent fault system in
the country, stretching approximately
1,200 kilometers from Luzon down to
Mindanao. It is a left-lateral strike-slip
fault, meaning the blocks of the earth
move horizontally past each other. This
fault has produced several strong

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earthquakes in history, including the 1990
Luzon earthquake (Magnitude 7.8) which
caused widespread damage and
casualties.
Major Active Fault Systems in
the Philippines
WEST VALLEY FAULT (WVF)
Part of the Marikina Valley Fault System,
this fault runs through major cities such as
Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, and
Muntinlupa. It is approximately 100
kilometers long and is capable of
generating a magnitude 7.2 earthquake,
which is often referred to as 'The Big One'

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in Metro Manila earthquake scenarios.
Major Active Fault Systems in
the Philippines
EAST VALLEY FAULT (EVF)
Located east of the West Valley Fault, the
EVF is a shorter fault but still poses a risk to
nearby communities. It is considered
active and may generate moderate
earthquakes that can affect Metro Manila
and nearby provinces.

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Major Active Fault Systems in
the Philippines
COTABATO FAULT SYSTEM
A series of interconnected faults in
Mindanao, including the Cotabato Trench.
This fault system has a history of generating
strong earthquakes, such as the October
2019 Mindanao earthquakes that caused
severe structural damage and fatalities.

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Major Active Fault Systems in
the Philippines
NEGROS FAULT SYSTEM
Found in the Visayas, this system
includes faults running through the
islands of Negros and Panay. It has
produced destructive earthquakes
in the past, posing a threat to the
densely populated Visayas region.

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RISK AND PREPAREDNESS
AND MITIGATION
HAZARDS To reduce risks, it is important to
Active faults pose significant follow proper land-use
risks, including strong ground planning, enforce earthquake-
shaking, surface rupture, resistant building codes, and
landslides, and liquefaction. educate communities about
Populated areas near these earthquake preparedness.
faults are vulnerable to severe Government agencies like
damage during major PHIVOLCS regularly monitor fault
earthquakes. activity and release hazard
maps to guide planning.
Active faults
In REGION 5
San Vicente-Linao Fault
The San Vicente-Linao Fault is a
strike-slip fault in the Bicol Peninsula
that remains seismically active,
having caused significant earthquakes
in the past, and is part of the larger
Philippine Fault Zone that plays a key
role in the region’s earthquake
hazards.The fault system is considered
active due to focal mechanism

1
solutions and extends towards the
Philippine Trench, potentially
displacing it by about 40 km.
BATO LINEAMENT
The Bato Lineament, found in southern Bicol, is
made up of interconnected faults and fractures
that show strong tectonic activity and greatly
influence the region’s vulnerability to earthquakes
and related disasters.

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 SAN MIGUEL FAULT
The San Miguel Fault stretches about
100 kilometers across Camarines
Norte, Camarines Sur, and possibly
Albay. It is identified as a left-lateral
strike-slip fault, indicating significant
sideways movement along the fault
trace. It has been linked to moderate

3
earthquakes that highlight its
importance in understanding local
seismic activity.
 LEGAZPI LINEAMENT
The Legazpi Lineament is
characterized by a dominant
horizontal movement (left-lateral
strike-slip), a prominent feature in the
Ragay Gulf area of the Philippines that
extends southeast through Lake Bato
and towards Legazpi City. The
lineament's activity contributes to the
seismic activity in Camarines Sur,

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making the region high-risk for
earthquakes.
 MINAS FAULT
The Minas Fault, extending through
Camarines Sur and possibly
Catanduanes, The formation of these
faults is linked to the releasing bend of
the larger Philippine Fault System,
which causes extensional stress and
the development of transtensional
(strike-slip with extension) faults, and
it has a record of producing moderate

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to strong earthquakes that can cause
significant ground shaking and uplift.
 HILAWAN FAULT
The Hilawan Fault, which runs for
about 60 kilometers in Catanduanes
and parts of Camarines Sur, is a
normal fault caused by extensional
tectonics, and although it mainly
produces low to moderate
earthquakes, it still contributes to the
area’s seismic hazards.

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DOST FAULT
FINDER
 Dost fault finder
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
(PHIVOLCS) Fault Finder is an application capable to do proximity
searches to active faults.

measure the shortest

used to determine the measure the shortest used to measure the
distance between an
location of active faults distance between an shortest distance
active fault and a user’s
in an area active fault and a user’s between an active fault
current location
current location and a specific site,
which is identified by a
user.
Dost fault finder
The app would be useful for

LAND-USE DISASTER RISK

PLANNING REDUCTION PLAN

RISK
AWARENESS
ASSESSMENT
 Dost fault finder
This web app is a product of the joint collaboration

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED

INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY (AIST)

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY (DOST)

PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF VOLCANOLOGY

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF AND SEISMOLOGY (PHIVOLCS)
JAPAN (GSJ)
Who developed the
fault finder app?
It was developed by Dr. Joel C. Bandibas of GSJ in cooperation
with the research and development personnel of DOST-PHIVOLCS.
Released in 2016, this app revolutionized active fault assessment in
the country, providing the public with an accessible and user-friendly
gateway to accurate active fault information. This recognition led the
Development Academy of the Philippines to award DOST-PHIVOLCS
the Center of Excellence in Public Sector Productivity under the
categories of Innovation and Productivity Initiatives: e-Government
Leadership and Innovation Leadership.
 How does it work?
The app uses three (3) base maps, Philippines Geoportal from
NAMRIA, Google Maps, and Openstreet. Information about a particular
query includes information on the Distance to the Nearest Active Fault,
Fault Name, Fault Segment Name, Year of the Mapping, and Map
Scale used during the mapping. If you are currently located, or if want
to know the location of active faults, in the Greater Metro Manila Area
(GMMA), click “Valley Fault System (VFS)” in the opening page,
otherwise, click “Other Fault Systems”
How does it work?
How does it work?
How does it work?
How does it work?
How does it work?
 How does it work?
1. Open: a web browser and type the FaultFinder
URL: faultfinder.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph into the address bar.
2. Click: "agree" to proceed to the interactive map.
3. Select: your desired fault system: Click on the "Valley Fault System (VFS)" if
you are in the Greater Metro Manila Area, or "Other Fault Systems" for
broader searches.
4. Choose: your location:
● To use your current location, enable your device's tracking device
and click "Active Fault Nearest You" or "Active Fault Based on
Location".
● To find the distance from a specific area, select "Active Fault Based
on Location" and then choose your province, municipality, and
barangay.
 How does it work?
5. Review: the displayed information, which shows the location and distance
from the nearest fault line.
6. Explore: different map layers by clicking the "Base Maps" option in the
upper right corner of the map.
7. Understand: the hazards by clicking the "Legend" in the lower right corner.
 ADVANTAGES
The DOST FaultFinder provides an By making fault data visual and
easy way to check how close a interactive through maps, it
location is to an active fault, which increases public awareness and
is very useful for ordinary citizens who encourages people to take
may not understand technical maps. earthquake safety more seriously.

It helps engineers, architects, Since it is a free and web-based tool,

planners, and government officials it can be accessed anytime using a
assess land safety before starting phone or computer, making hazard
construction projects, ensuring that information available to anyone
houses, schools, hospitals, and other without needing expensive
structures are built in safer areas. equipment or professional training.
 LIMITATIONS
The tool only displays known and It cannot predict when an earthquake
mapped active faults. Smaller or will happen or how strong it will be. It
unmapped faults may still exist but only shows proximity to active faults, so
are not included, which means the people should not mistake it as an
data is not 100% complete. earthquake prediction tool.

The accuracy depends on the quality It should be used together with

of the location input (e.g., exact other hazard maps and assessments
address vs. vague place name) and (like soil type, liquefaction, landslide
the resolution of the available fault hazards) for a complete
map. understanding of earthquake risks.
 IMPORTANCE
For communities, it provides a clearer For families, it helps in choosing safer
understanding of earthquake hazards, places to live, especially when buying
making them more proactive in property or building a home. Knowing if
preparing emergency plans and drills. a house is near an active fault can
guide them in making better decisions.

For government and LGUs, it makes Overall, it supports the goal of

disaster risk reduction more effective building a disaster-resilient
by providing a scientific basis for Philippines, where people are safer,
zoning, evacuation planning, and damages are reduced, and recovery
infrastructure placement. is faster when earthquakes occur.
Finding THE DISTANCE
TO THE NEAREST
Fault LINE
 Finding for Your Distance to the Nearest
Fault Line
1. Go to DOST Faultfinder
and select “Philippines
Fault Systems”.
2. 2. Select “Active Fault
Nearest You”.
 Finding for the Distance of a Specific
Location to the Nearest
1. Select “Philippines Fault Systems”
again.
2. Select “Active Fault Based on
Location”.
 Finding for the Distance of a Specific
Location to the Nearest
3. Specify the Province,
Municipality and Barangay.
Then, click “Go”.
 Finding for the Distance of a Specific
Location to the Nearest
4. The app will display the distance of that
specific location to the nearest fault
line. (ex: Santa Cruz Sur, Iriga City,
Camarines Sur is 6.8 km away from the
nearest fault line, Legazpi Lineament).
THANK
YOU!