THE government has stepped up the effort to raise awareness to prepare for the Big One, or the East and West Valley Fault earthquake, by literally marking the ground where it traverses. Led by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) officials, roads in Taguig City were painted with markers with the use of white reflectorized thermoplastic paint, which is also being used in Metro Manila’s pedestrian lanes. MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said that these markers will let the public know where the fault actually lies and that these "may serve as a daily reminder to the residents that they are residing near or along the fault and at the same time heighten their awareness to prepare for the unexpected.” Tolentino added that they intend to paint the markers, which can last up to five years, over the whole 100-km WVF from San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan up to Cavite and Laguna. The Phivolcs has w...