DENR nears completion of RP’s geohazard mapping

By Danny O. Calleja

LEGAZPI CITY, July 30 (PNA) – It’s six more provinces to go and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) would be wrapping up its Geohazard Mapping and Assessment Project (GMAP).

The GMAP would identify disaster-prone areas in the country as it helps chart a future with renewed national interest in geology as a science and as a career that would open new work opportunities for geology enthusiasts and other scientists with focus on the environment, Alfredo Araya, spokesman of the DENR regional office for Bicol based in Legazpi City said on Wednesday.

And when it is completed as expected soon, a master file for the entire Philippine archipelago which identifies areas that are prone to geological hazards such as landslides, floods, and tsunamis will be available for practical use at the local government level and for Philippine businesses as well as citizens in general.

GMAP, a 12-month program which was started this year is being implemented by the DENR-MGB in collaboration covered by a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with a funding of P3.5 million.

With one of the world's longest coastlines and archipelagic features, the Philippines is naturally prone to geological hazards. Coastal areas are especially prone to coastal erosion, storm surges and sea level rise. Under the, coastal areas spanning 2,385 kilometers and 160 municipalities were also surveyed, Araya said.

The DENR and MGB believe that identifying such areas will reduce the loss of lives and properties brought about by natural disasters.

Araya explained that the program was designed not just to anticipate disasters but also to help people adapt to the geologic effects of climate change.

He said that climate change has also affected the severity and frequency of natural disasters.

In recent years, many have suffered and lost their properties and loved ones because of sudden landslides and floods. Suffering resulting from these tragedies could have been avoided if people had been warned earlier, Araya said .

GMAP, he explained, makes use of remote sensing studies to identify features that could indicate unstable areas or impending physical events. These remote sensing studies use air photographs, LandSat and Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS). Radar images are used as well.

Data are also gathered through field surveys by geologists from MGB. These are stored, processed and managed under a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) platform. Information based on geographic location can be captured, stored and retrieved using the GIS platform. GIS can also be used for displaying information in form of layers of digital maps, Araya said.

The digital version of the geohazard maps, once completed, will be similar to the satellite imagery provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The map will contain various layers of images outlining the Philippines’ topographical, geological and coastal features.

Araya said that with the information becoming accessible, people will find out for themselves, with the help of experts and scientists, whether or not they are in affected areas, and whether they need to adapt to these geographic features to avert disastrous results.

“Time is truly of the essence in disaster management. MGB has been given up to the end of this year to complete the digital versions of the maps,” MGB-Bicol regional director Reynulfo Juan said.

MGB so far has successfully assessed 1,486 municipalities and cities out of a total of 1,618, completing 91.2 percent and aside from having assessed 73 out of 79 Philippine provinces, the bureau has also digitized 47 percent of the assessed output, Juan said.

“We were informed by the EMB central office that some provinces have not yet been assessed as of last week either due to unstable peace and situation or difficult terrain," Juan said.

He said areas still up for completion are provinces of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), portions of Samar and Negros Occidental and other provinces whose geohazard assessments have yet to be completed.

With geohazard maps, local government units would be more equipped in helping their constituents prepare for possible disasters. Information gleaned from the maps will be incorporated into their Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP).

The DENR and MGB are also working with various government agencies through the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in identifying possible relocation areas for calamity-affected families.

To educate citizens on geohazards, municipality and city-wide workshops on the results of the program will be held. Information materials will also be distributed in schools, barangay halls and other public places, Juan said.

“Knowing whether or not home and other properties stand on a disaster-prone area can save people a lot of money and heartache. The DENR believes that with proper use of information and planning, tragedies can be avoided,” Araya added.

The DENR-DSWD agreement provides that the former produces 1:10,000 geo-hazard maps for dissemination to the targeted cities and municipalities for use in disaster risk management, land use planning and disaster preparedness.

According to Juan, volcanic eruptions, landslides, flooding and other geo-hazards are common in the Bicol and the project will help residents prepare and cope with these disasters.

On the part of the region, he said, the project is part of one of the subcomponents of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) funded "Early Recovery Program for Typhoon-Affected Bicol Region" with DSWD as the lead implementing agency.

The program will enable the poor and vulnerable groups to cope with the impact of disasters and other environmental emergencies. (PNA)
LAP/LQ/DOC/cbd