Follow RP's geo-hazard map

If you want to know whether you live in the direct path of an earthquake fault or prone to landslide and flash flood areas, you can now check it from the Geo-Hazard Map now available at the website of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Specifically, the Geo-Hazard Map can be accessed from the website of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB), one of the attached agencies of the DENR.

The DENR-MGB is the government agency directly in charge of the administration and disposition of our country’s mineral lands and mineral resources. It undertakes geological researches, as well as mineral exploration surveys. “The Geo-hazards Mapping and Assessment Program of the DENR-MGB is an important component of the government’s disaster management and mitigation program in order to reduce the loss of lives and properties brought about by natural disasters,” the MGB website explained.

The Geo-Hazard mapping also “involves both the identification of areas of the country that are prone or susceptible to various geologic hazards, like rain-induced landslides, floods, flashfloods, storm surge, coastal erosion, sea-level rise and other natural events, and dissemination of these information to increase public awareness.” Further, the MGB website explained that the output of the Geo-Hazard mapping program “is equally important for land use planning (CLUPs), land development and the emerging concerns on climate-change adaptation.”

By the way, the MGB is also primarily responsible for the implementation of the Mining Act of 1995. Indiscriminate mining practices are blamed for much of the degradation of our environment, especially the improper disposition of mine tailings and other hazardous bio-chemical by-products.

Mining also is most susceptible to man-made landslide disasters like what happened in Chile. Fortunately, the Chile mining accident ended in a positive note with the safe rescue of all the 33 miners trapped for almost 69 days deep down the crust of the earth.

Over a luncheon dialogue with opinion columnists the other day, DENR Secretary Ramon J. Paje told us about the Geo-Hazard Map that they in the DENR have newly completed.

Without going into details, Paje described the Geo-Hazard Map as the best guide that Filipinos could rely on, regarding the risks or safety of any place in the Philippines where they are living.

Paje said he has already presented the newly completed Philippine Geo-Hazard Map in CD-ROM version to President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. The DENR chief disclosed that the President instructed him to make sure all local government units (LGUs) would have copies or access to the Geo-Hazard Map in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

The MGB website features the Geo-Hazard Map for Metro Manila Flood Hazard Map and both flood and landslide susceptible areas in Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela which were the worst hit by typhoon Juan. When I accessed it yesterday, however, I found out that you have to pay a fee to get a copy. It states the following information: “Please contact the GDIS Section (tel. no. 9209121) for the availability of geohazard maps. Each quadrangle costs P500 (JPEG format).”

One of the five components of this Geo-Hazard Mapping program included information dissemination through the conduct of seminars, workshops, and other information campaigns to explain the nature of geologic hazards and the use of the maps. Methinks, the DENR should make such vital public information available at no cost to taxpayers like us.

Not only are we vulnerable to extremes of climate change in the Philippines. Paje cited our country is also in the path of the earthquake fault line or the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire. About 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes and 80 percent of the world’s largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire.

But in the light of the latest super typhoons that we are having like Juan (or “Megi” as its international code name), the DENR chief said the immediate concern for now is to ensure the safety of people in identified areas prone to landslides and severe flooding.

Indeed, our government agencies under the umbrella of the National Disaster Risk, Reduction, and Management Council (NDRRMC) have given ample alert notice to people in the provinces in the direct path of typhoon Juan to secure their houses and prepare well for the contingency. 

As of yesterday, Megi had already exited the Philippines and reached Hong Kong and proceeding to China. “You know, the Philippines is the major exporter of typhoons to China,” Paje wisecracked. He pointed out the fact that an average of 23 typhoons visit the Philippines every year. And these typhoons always develop and come from the Pacific where the Philippines is strategically straddled, he stressed.

On a serious note, Paje admitted that the value of having Geo-Hazard Map is only realized if the people would heed its warnings. For example, he cited the case of the Little Kibungan in La Trinidad, Benguet where 54 people were killed in landslides at the height of Ondoy in September last year.

After that tragedy, he said, the DENR has declared and in fact, put up a permanent sign in that place to warn the public: “This is a landslide-prone area.” However, when the DENR checked the place, some 200 people were found having put up their houses anew.

Even in the face of dangers of being washed down by a landslide, people still take their chance and ignore the risks to their very lives. This leaves the government with no choice but to use the strong arm of the law and implement forced evacuation.

Under our country’s laws, Paje said the government could pluck out people from these areas declared as “danger zones.” He singled out Albay Gov. Joey Salceda for leadership to implement such “forced evacuation” that saved lives of recalcitrant Bicolanos who refused to leave their homes when Mt. Mayon started volcanic eruptions last year.

It takes this kind of leadership that could compel people to follow the Geo-Hazard Map for their own safety.