DENR-7 upgrades geohazard map

CEBU, Philippines - As part of national government’s steps to ensure disaster resiliency, a more detailed geohazard mapping in the region is underway.

From the already finished one-is-to-5,000 scale mapping, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources yesterday bared that it is currently upgrading the geohazard map into one-is-to-10,000.

“Kung sauna ang imong sakyanan kay tuldok ra tan-awon sa mapa, karon kay maklaro na siya nga awto,” this was how DENR-7 Executive Director Isabelo Montejo described the ongoing project of the agency.

This initiative prioritizes calamity-stricken areas, specifically last year’s super typhoon Yolanda, covering 16 local government units in northern Cebu.

Mapping for northern Cebu will be done within the month, from June 3 to 30. These areas include Bantayan, Bogo City, Borbon, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Medellin, Pilar, Poro, Tudela, and San Francisco in Camotes, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan, and Tuburan.

Among those which have been completed as far back as 2011 were Bantayan, Madridejos, and Sta. Fe. The much detailed geohazard map of Sogod was recently finished. The rest are yet to be completed within the year.

And since state geologists in the region fall short than the needed number to cover all areas in Central Visayas, the mapping for some towns needed to be outsourced, said Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 chief Al Berador.

To compensate the mismatch between the state geologists and the projects that need to be done within the given time frame, Montejo said they have been “equipping” the municipal engineers by providing training for them to help in completing these geohazard maps.

This initiative was applied to Bohol for the sinkhole assessment projects following the powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake that shook the island province and also affecting neighboring Cebu.

“These may not be as technical as licensed geologists’ work. But we are trying our best to train them and to also get the work done,” Montejo said.

The geohazard map of DENR identifies areas vulnerable to flooding and landslides.

Data is given to local government units along with recommendations especially on prohibiting habitation and utilization of the land.

Montejo explained that it is beyond their jurisdiction to prohibit building of homes and industries in the identified geohazard vulnerable areas but stressed that the local government unit has the power to execute the recommendations that the environment agency will give based on the geohazard assessment results.— (FREEMAN)