DENR to LGUs: Mind geohazard maps

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) yesterday reiterated its call for local government officials to give serious attention to the geohazard maps that have been distributed to some 1,600 municipalities and cities, and about 4,000 barangays nationwide.

“More than a planning tool, these maps are a lifesaver,” DENR Secretary Ramon Paje stressed.

“I implore the heads of local government units (LGUs) to take genuine interest in these geohazard maps we have provided them, especially for those whose areas are in identified disaster-prone areas so they can take the necessary steps before, during and after calamity,” he said.

Paje added the 1:50,000-scale geohazard maps are a critical planning tool in the government’s risk reduction program.

Paje had ordered the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) last year to re-distribute the maps to LGUs following the May 2010 elections to ensure that all newly elected local officials have their maps.

“The practice is we immediately furnish the LGUs copies of the maps. But after the elections in May last year, I directed the MGB to distribute the maps again to make sure that our local officials, particularly the new ones, will be able to study the maps,” he said.

Briefings were also conducted for local officials down to the barangay level.

Among other things, geohazard maps contain information as to the level of susceptibility of areas to flooding and landslide, including areas that could possibly be used as relocation or evacuation sites, in case of calamities.

Under Republic Act No. 10121 or the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, LGUs are tasked to evacuate residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas and relocate them to safe areas in times of impending typhoon and other weather disturbances that could bring heavy rains.

The law also requires all LGUs to have its Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (LDRRM) systems and have a greater responsibility in building the disaster preparedness of communities and institute disaster risk reduction within their jurisdictions.

“The maps are there to increase the LGUs’ competence on hazards, vulnerability and risk assessment activities and enable them to establish their LDRRM system to effectively comply with RA 10121,” Paje said.

Paje reiterated the call to LGUs, noting the apparent lack of a system that could have identified flood risk areas that led to the hundreds of people killed and missing in the flashfloods triggered by the heavy rains of storm “Sendong” last Saturday.

Thousands of families have been rendered homeless by the floods that hit Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

The Department of Health (DOH) also expressed concerns over the possible outbreak of diseases in the evacuation centers sheltering the affected families.

DOH Undersecretary Dr. Ted Herbosa said teams led by Health Emergency Management Staff Dr. Carmencita Banatin have been sent to affected areas in northern Mindanao to monitor the health of the evacuees.

“We have already issued precautionary (advices) on respiratory diseases. If so many people are in the same areas, lacking in so many things particularly water, outbreak of diseases is possible. We don’t want that to happen,” Herbosa said.

The DOH had sent medical supplies and medicine, drinking water and water purifying machines and 648 cadaver bags to the most affected areas of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City.

Health experts have also been dispatched to immunize children against measles.

Herbosa added the DOH is also working for the distribution of portable toilets in the 20 evacuation centers.

Herbosa urged those in evacuation centers to continue observing personal hygiene and sanitation to protect themselves against disease like upper respiratory infection, diarrhea and fever.

“It is important to wash their hands – although, of course, this would be a problem because of lack of water supply there. I hope that those that will do relief missions there will include water and even hand sanitizer. And if they have cough or sneeze, they should cover their mouth,” he said.

Herbosa advised evacuees to seek immediate medical help if they have cough, cold, fever and diarrhea, which are common in evacuation sites.

“I’ve noticed that many of the evacuees were sleeping on cemented floors. They can develop pneumonia. It is important for them to wear proper clothing (because the weather is cold),” he added. –With Sheila Crisostomo