DENR advises LGUs to revisit geohazard maps; orders MGB to fast track updates
Published Oct 31, 2019 08:22 pm
By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has called on local government units (LGUs) nationwide to revisit the geological hazard maps distributed by the national government and use them as a guide for disaster preparedness and management.
The agency made the call amid the powerful earthquakes and intermittent rains experienced in Mindanao.
DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu
(DENR / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said it is vital for LGUs, especially those in Mindanao, to take a look at the geohazard maps prepared by MGB and take note of areas declared as highly susceptible for flooding and landslide. “The all important role these maps have in saving lives and properties is once again highlighted by the recent earthquakes and incessant rains being experienced in Mindanao,” Cimatu said. The DENR chief instructed the MGB to ensure that all local government officials have copies of the geohazard maps, including those who were elected for the first time in the May 2019 polls. Cimatu referred to the geohazard map as a “life-saving tool,” as he warned that the continuous occurrences of aftershocks and frequent rain “could aggravate things.” Around 200,000 maps, at a scale of 1:10,000, have been produced and distributed to LGUs, national government agencies, schools, and civil society groups and private organizations engaged in disaster mitigation and relief activities. A total of 1,618 municipalities nationwide were covered by the MGB’s geohazard mapping program. Cimatu has ordered the MGB to double its efforts in updating the maps, especially in areas that have been recently hit by typhoons and earthquakes. “Earthquakes and rains are a deadly combination,” Cimatu pointed out. “Mountainous and hilly areas that experience earthquakes and intense rainfall render these areas highly susceptible to landslides.” The geohazard maps can be accessed on the websites of the DENR (www.denr.gov.ph) and the MGB (www.mgb.gov.ph). These maps are available in 1:50,000 and 1:10,000 scales.
DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu(DENR / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said it is vital for LGUs, especially those in Mindanao, to take a look at the geohazard maps prepared by MGB and take note of areas declared as highly susceptible for flooding and landslide. “The all important role these maps have in saving lives and properties is once again highlighted by the recent earthquakes and incessant rains being experienced in Mindanao,” Cimatu said. The DENR chief instructed the MGB to ensure that all local government officials have copies of the geohazard maps, including those who were elected for the first time in the May 2019 polls. Cimatu referred to the geohazard map as a “life-saving tool,” as he warned that the continuous occurrences of aftershocks and frequent rain “could aggravate things.” Around 200,000 maps, at a scale of 1:10,000, have been produced and distributed to LGUs, national government agencies, schools, and civil society groups and private organizations engaged in disaster mitigation and relief activities. A total of 1,618 municipalities nationwide were covered by the MGB’s geohazard mapping program. Cimatu has ordered the MGB to double its efforts in updating the maps, especially in areas that have been recently hit by typhoons and earthquakes. “Earthquakes and rains are a deadly combination,” Cimatu pointed out. “Mountainous and hilly areas that experience earthquakes and intense rainfall render these areas highly susceptible to landslides.” The geohazard maps can be accessed on the websites of the DENR (www.denr.gov.ph) and the MGB (www.mgb.gov.ph). These maps are available in 1:50,000 and 1:10,000 scales.