Ferliza C. Contratista
CEBU CITY, May 18 (PIA)--Seeing the continuous threat of
disasters, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) aims to
convert Geohazard maps into digital files.
In today's Kapihan sa PIA, DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau
(MFB-7) chief geologist, Al Emil Berador said digitizing the
maps will make them accessible for the Local Government Units (LGU) and public
for disaster risk mitigation.
Berador said, Geohazard maps serve as a reference for LGUs in
situating where to build schools, hospitals and others in areas not susceptible
to disasters.
"If we will digitize the geohazard maps, people will be
aware if their locality is prone to any disasters" explained Berador.
The department is also planning to develop an application where the
public can access the maps for free, he added.
Recently, DENR in collaboration with the National Mapping and
Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) completed the geohazard mapping
and assessment program and distributed the results to selected LGUs devastated
by Yolanda.
"We are also encouraging LGUs to appreciate the maps
and send to us their clarifications for a continuous update of the maps"
urged Berador.
Meanwhile, this years’s updated Geohazard maps have a scale of
1:10,000 which covers a complete picture of certain barangay along with its
sitios showing prone and vulnerable areas to disasters.
"For the meantime, we started bringing Information Education
Communication (IEC) materials to areas affected by Yolanda teaching them how to
use and read the map" said Berador.
Likewise, DENR is planning to intensify the program by bringing
IEC materials to barangays, cities and municipalities in Central Visayas next
year.
The current geohazard maps can be downloaded in these government
websites: DENR (www.denr.gov.ph), Mines and Geosciences Bureau
(www.mgb.gov.ph), Philippine Information Agency (www.pia.gov.ph) and that of
Environmental Science for Social Change (www.essc.org.ph). –(mbcn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu/with
reports from Caren Gabisay, CNU Devcom Intern)
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See more at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2441431671352/geohazard-maps-to-be-digitized-#sthash.Ow7vDeHh.dpuf