The Central Cordillera hosts some of the youngest volcanic units in the Philippines, with Pleistocene–Recent volcanic deposits reported in parts of Benguet that reflect a comparatively recent magmatic episode linked to regional subduction processes. Preliminary mapping from earlier fieldwork in Kabayan and Buguias delineated widespread exposures inferred to belong to these young volcanic centers, yet detailed studies remain limited, especially regarding the eruptive processes that produced the deposits and the hazards they may imply. Given the Pleistocene–Recent age range suggested by available constraints and the scarcity of process-focused work, this project aims to characterize the exposed volcanic deposits in Kabayan and Buguias using physical volcanology and stratigraphy, and to use that characterization to assess associated volcanic hazards in the area.
The study will construct detailed stratigraphic columns for key exposures and systematically describe volcanic outcrops in the municipalities of Kabayan and Buguias. Field descriptions will emphasize grain size, grain shape, sorting, thickness, components, and sedimentary/volcanic structures, because these attributes are fundamental for interpreting depositional mechanisms and for building a coherent volcanic stratigraphy. Stratigraphic and facies observations will be interpreted within a physical volcanology framework to infer the processes responsible for deposition (e.g., fallout/airfall, pyroclastic density current deposits, lahars, lava-flow-related units) and to organize deposits into volcano-stratigraphic units that reflect eruptive activity units and their sequence through time. In parallel, the project includes data collation and map digitization to support deposit distribution mapping and to place measured sections in spatial context, followed by data processing and interpretation to link deposit characteristics to inferred eruptive behavior and hazard implications, culminating in report writing and submission within the one-year project period.
By producing a deposit-based volcanic stratigraphy for the Kabayan–Buguias area, the project directly addresses a practical gap: young volcanic deposits are present, but their origins, sequence, and hazard meaning are not yet well constrained. The expected outputs include (1) detailed stratigraphic columns that document the succession of eruptive products, (2) process interpretations grounded in observable deposit characteristics, and (3) an evidence-based assessment of potential hazards informed by the mapped extent and nature of past deposits. Because volcanic stratigraphy can reveal eruptive style, event magnitudes, and spatial footprints, these results provide a defensible basis for improving local hazard understanding and for supporting future hazard-map development and more targeted follow-on work in Central Cordillera volcanic fields.
This research addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goals for Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) and Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9).
Cover photo from Karlo Queaño, Jason Ali, Manuel Pubellier, Graciano Yumul, Jr., Carla Dimalanta. Reconstructing the Mesozoic-early Cenozoic evolution of northern Philippines: clues from palaeomagnetic studies on the ophiolitic basement of the Central Cordillera. Geophysical Journal International, 2009, 178 (3), pp.1317-1326. 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2009.04221.x . hal-03080907
