PHIVOLCS sets up remote seismic monitoring station on Mt. Apo

State seismologists have established a remote monitoring station on the northwestern slopes of Mt. Apo in Cotabato that can detect volcanic and earthquake activities.

The Apo Volcano Ilomavis, Kidapawan City Observation Station or VAIK is a solar-powered facility that transmits real-time seismic data simultaneously via virtual private network to the General Santos Observatory (GSO), Kidapawan Seismic Station, and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) main office in Quezon City.

"VAIK is equipped with a state-of-the-art Kinemetrics broadband seismic sensor and digital recorder for volcano and earthquake monitoring. VAIK is the latest addition to the monitoring stations operated and administered by GSO," the PHIVOLCS said in a statement on Friday.

The PHIVOLCS also said an appeasement ritual or "pomaas" was performed by the Manobo Apao Descendants Ancestral Domain of Mount Apo Council of Elders at the premises of the monitoring station as the site is part of the Manobo's ancestral domain.

"The ritual or 'pomaas', which embodies the values, culture, and ideas of the Manobo people, involves a sacrifice of a white chicken as an offering to appease and pay respects to the spirits believed to be sacred by the Manobo people. In their beliefs, disregarding this ritual will result in punishment and chaos," the agency said.

Also known locally as Apo Sandawa, Mount Apo is a dormant volcano and is considered to be the highest peak in the Philippines. It has an elevation of 2,954 meters above sea level and a land area of 65,900.9 hectares.

It is geographically located between Cotabato and Davao del Sur in Mindanao.

Mt. Apo is declared a protected area under Republic Act No. 7586, or National Integrated Protected Areas System Act. It is also considered as a heritage park by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). — VDV, GMA Integrated News