Mandaue to identify disaster prone areas

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City government is set to conduct a hazard mapping in every barangay to identify disaster prone areas.

City Planning Officer Florentino Nimor said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) will also separately conduct hazard mapping in the barangays.

Nimor said a hazard map is necessary for barangays because this will help them prepare for disasters.

The city’s hazard map was presented during the three-day workshop on disaster preparedness organized by the City Government and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Mandaue.

He said in the days to come, his office will conduct a consultation with barangay officials of the 27 barangays to create the hazard map which he believed will be completed in a span of one month.

 The hazard map will identify the areas in the barangays that are prone to floods, landslides, and other disasters.

Nimor said Mandaue is susceptible to floods and earthquakes.

The workshop, which ended yesterday, was participated by department heads and representatives of the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Office of Civil Defense, and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

DILG Mandaue director Jhoaden Lucero said hazard mapping in barangays will help inform all constituents about the susceptibilities in their communities.

She said a plan is required before the city can use its funds for disaster risk reduction and management, which is five percent of the city’s total budget.

She said the city has allocated P54 million for prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and rehabilitation projects this year.  (FREEMAN)