DENR-7 Finalizes Hi-Res Geohazard Maps for Cebu Brgys.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is now finalizing the high-resolution geohazards maps for barangays in the region.

The production of 1:10,000 scale geohazard maps is a priority program under the Philippine Development Plan on climate change mitigation and adaptation of the Aquino administration.

In a press statement from DENR-7, this is in line with the upcoming massive information and education campaign to all Yolanda-affected areas in northern Cebu.

MGB-7 Regional Director Loreto Alburo said, “we will hold an aggressive and purposive communication drive starting next year to highly critical areas for landslides and flooding of some 208 barangays in nine towns of northern Cebu that were hit by the typhoon last year.”

There will be teams of geologists that will do the campaign to notify the communities on the geohazards present, Alburo continued.

In a report released by the MGB-7 division as of November 14, the towns covered are the following: Madridejos with 14 barangays; Santa Fe has 10; Bantayan – 25; Daanbantayan – 20; Tabogon – 29; Borbon-19; Tuburan – 54; Tabuelan – 12; and Bogo City with 29 barangays.

DENR regional executive director Dr. Isabelo Montejo said geohazard maps that indicate areas susceptible to floods and landslides are important tool in disaster risk reduction and management.

He also explained that with the 1:10,000 scale geohazard maps, the extent of susceptibility to floods and landslides can be identified in these areas.

These maps, which are more detailed and zoomed-in, will enable the local chief executives to see clearly which high-risk areas are,” Montejo continued.

He added all concerned LGUs will be provided copies of new maps with full recommendations and the suitable measures to undertake to keep the communities safer.

The detailed maps identify the vulnerabilities of LGUs to threats like landslide, flooding, sea level rise and storm surge.

These maps indicate features that may affect ground stability and the type of landslides that may possibly occur within the identified critical areas.

DENR had allocated some P354 million for the conduct of the detailed geohazard mapping in various disaster-prone areas in the country as part of the agency’s efforts to enhance the preparedness of LGUs and the implementation of various mitigation measures against natural disaster. (mbcn/HFG/PIA-7/with reports from Eddie Llamedo/DENR-7)

Image Credit: mgb7.cvis.net.ph