Geohazard mapping in Cebu almost done

CEBU, Philippines - More than 500 barangays in 23 cities and municipalities in the provinces of Cebu and Negros Oriental will undergo Geohazard Mapping and Assessment next month.

Geohazard mapping is one of the flagship programs of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to protect and preserve lives and properties through identification of various geologic features and the hazards associated with these features.

Its objectives also include the identification of settlement sites and its properties and infrastructures to be affected, generation of geohazard maps as well as reports incorporating information that would be gathered and the assessment of the vulnerability of certain areas to various types of geologic and natural hazards.

The mapping tries to protect the public from the geological phenomena that can produce hazards such as floods and landslides that are often rain-induced and earthquake related.

The mapping will be spearheaded by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of DENR Central Visayas which aims to complete the target 511 barangays before the end of this year.

MGB-7 will cover barangays in the towns of Ayungon, Bindoy, Manjuyod, Bais, Tanjay, Pamplona, Amlan, San Jose, Sibulan, Dumaguete, Valencia, Bacong, Dauin, Zamboanguita and Siaton of Negros Oreiental.

In Cebu province, MGB shall cover the towns of Badian, Moalboal, Alcantara, Ronda, Dumanjug, Barili, Aloguinsan and Pinamungajan.

A team of geologists from the MGB-7 and from MGB central office with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office personnel shall carry out the job.

The activity will include interviewing barangay officials and field visits in all barangay offices so that appropriate warnings and recommendations to each local government unit shall be given.

MGB-7 regional director Roger de Dios said that the information will be useful to authorities responsible for the physical framework and land use planning, land use classification and allocation by LGUs, project development and disaster preparedness, management and mitigation of a locality.

As of yesterday, MGB-7 has completed the mapping of 73 cities and municipalities particularly in Bohol and Cebu province.

Geohazard was first completed in Bohol where MGB-7 covered 984 barangays from 48 municipalities. The mapping of Cebu Province is half done with 544 barangays from 25 municipalities already covered.

The mapping has not yet begun in Siquijor. In early interviews with De Dios, he said it is because the bureau lacks enough geologists to conduct the mapping. Nevertheless, he said the mapping is set to be finished by 2010.

The staff report for the completely mapped municipalities and cities are currently under review at MGB central office in Manila. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/BRP (THE FREEMAN)