Geohazard maps of Yolanda-hit towns up for distribution

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QUEZON CITY, Nov. 10 — The environment and natural resources department said that 131 out of the 171 municipalities, covering nine Yolanda-hit provinces, now have geohazard maps at a scale of 1:10,000.

After super typhoon Yolanda ravaged the Visayas regions one year ago, larger-scale and more detailed geohazard maps of majority of the towns affected by one of the worst natural disasters in the nation’s history have already been completed and are now being distributed to the local government units (LGUs).

The department’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau is finalizing the high-resolution maps for the remaining 40 towns covering five provinces.

Environemnt secretary Ramon J.P. Paje reiterated geohazard maps, which indicate areas susceptible to floods and landslides, are an important tool in disaster risk reduction and management.

The completed maps cover towns in the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Iloilo, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Dinagat Island and Palawan.

The MGB has yet to complete the detailed geohazard maps for towns in the provinces of Masbate, Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Negros Occidental.

Paje said all concerned LGUs down to the barangay level will be provided copies of new maps complete with recommendations.

He said the new maps replaces previous ones with a scale of 1:50,000.

The production of 1:10,000 scale geohazard maps is a priority program under the Philippine Development Plan on climate change mitigation and adaptation of the Aquino administration.

Paje said the detailed maps identify the vulnerabilities of LGUs to threats like landslide, flooding, sea level rise and storm surge, as these maps indicate features that may affect ground stability and the type of landslides that may possibly occur within the identified critical areas.

The DENR had allocated some P354 million for the conduct of the detailed geohazard mapping in various disaster-prone areas in the country as part of the agency’s efforts to enhance the preparedness of LGUs and the implementation of various mitigation measures against natural disaster. (PIA)

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