Paper Title
Seismicity and Prediction of Strong Earthquake in General Santos City, Philippines

Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the seismicity of General Santos City, the level of awareness of the people regarding seismic risks and hazards, and the probability of occurrence of strong earthquake in the City during the next five years. The seismicity of General Santos was evaluated in terms of four earthquake parameters namely: intensity, magnitude, frequency, and location of the epicenter. The people’s awareness was based on a survey conducted among the occupants of the buildings included in the study. Findings showed that General Santos was seismically active during the 17-year period from 2000 to 2016. There were two hundred eighteen (218) felt earthquakes recorded or an average of 1.1 tremors per month at intensity levels ranging from I to VI. The earthquakes were tectonic in origin and were generated from at least five major sources, namely, the Cotabato Trench, Sangihe Trench, Mindanao fault, Davao Trench, and Philippine Trench. The PHIVOLCS also recorded 7,760 unfelt earthquakes for 2000 to 2012 which means that unknown to the residents, General Santos shakes on a daily basis at an average of almost twice a day. Based on the magnitudes of the recorded earthquakes, and using the Richter-Gutenberg model and the Poisson probability distribution, the probability of at least one earthquake event of magnitude 7 or higher will be felt in General Santos in the next five years was computed to be 69%. Regarding the level of seismic risk awareness, the survey indicated that the residents of General Santos are only moderately aware of the seismic risk in case a strong earthquake will occur. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that hazard mitigation and preparedness program be conducted that will focus on the building of earthquake-resistant structures and development of earthquake hazard map for areas of the city which are prone to landslide and liquefaction. Earthquake awareness and preparedness should also be inculcated among the people through the conduct of earthquake drills and incorporation of earthquake education in the school curriculum. Keywords- seismicity, earthquake awareness, earthquake prediction