Villages in 3 Bicol provinces to receive geo-hazard maps

MANILA, Philippines - To help Bicol residents prepare for and cope with the impact of environmental emergencies and disasters, geo-hazard maps will be distributed to communities in at least three provinces in the region.

The P3.5-million project that aims to reduce disaster risks by identifying sites in Bicol that are geologically hazardous, will be enforced under an agreement recently signed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“The Bicol region is an area where volcanic eruption, floodings and siltations can happen anytime. It was seriously affected by tropical storms ‘Milenyo,’ ‘Reming,’ and ‘Senyang,’” said Environment Secretary Horacio Ramos.

The project called “Risk Mapping of Key Urban Centers for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Bicol Region” will be implemented in Albay (Camalig and Guinobatan towns), Sorsogon (Pilar and Donsol towns) and Catanduanes (Pandan, Caramoran, San Andres, Virac and Bato towns) starting this month until December.

Under the project, the DENR will produce geo-hazard maps for use in disaster risk reduction and land use planning.

Acting DSWD Secretary Celia Capadocia-Yangco said sound disaster risk management requires vital information on the geographic distribution of hazards and risks.

The total project will cost P3.56 million. Of the funding, P1.67 million will come from the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau, and the rest from the DSWD to be used in procuring computer software and equipment for the geo-hazard mapping and for reproducing and distributing scale maps.

Under the memorandum of agreement, the DENR will produce geo-hazard maps for dissemination to municipalities and barangays in the three Bicol provinces.

Ramos said barangay officials will be taught how to use the geo-hazard maps for disaster preparedness.

Yangco said the partnership is part of DSWD’s Bicol Recovery Project to enable the poor and vulnerable groups, especially women and children, to cope with the impact of disasters and other environmental emergencies.

“We want communities to be aware of the possible hazards that may affect their lives. With these geo-hazard maps, the location of these people can now be plotted and identified,” she said.

Ramos said they will also conduct capacity-building training in disaster preparedness, risk reduction and early warning to selected communities in the three provinces.