MGB: Geo-hazard maps ready this year or early ’07

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is expected to come up with the initial geohazard maps this year or early 2007 to boost efforts to mitigate the impact of disasters in the country.

MGB deputy director Dr. Edwin Domingo said the bureau might be able to complete geo-hazard maps initially for 486 municipalities and over 12,000 barangays nationwide.

"We are finalizing the master plan. Maybe this year or early next year, we will be able to provide the public with more detailed information," he said in a press conference at the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology yesterday.

Under the project, the MGB is leading the geo-hazard mapping of the Philippines, using a P60-million fund from Malacañang.  

The project aims to create a 50,000-scale map that shows which areas face low, moderate or high vulnerability to landslides.

The MGB’s 2003 geo-hazard map identified Benguet, Mt. Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, Apayao, Southern Leyte, Abra, Marinduque, Cebu, Catanduanes and Ifugao as among the landslide-prone areas.

The geo-hazard mapping project is expected to be completed by 2008.

Domingo, however, said they do not intend to just give the maps to local government units (LGUs), saying they want to make sure that local and community leaders know how to read and interpret the maps for proper implementation.

"The best way to address disasters is prevention. We hope that these maps can be used by the LGUs in aligning their land use so that those identified as risk-prone are no longer used either for residential or industrial (sites)," he said.