QUEZON CITY, Nov. 8 -- After super typhoon Yolanda ravaged the Visayas 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 of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in a statement reported that so far, 131 out of the 171 municipalities, covering nine Yolanda-hit provinces, now have geohazard maps at a scale of 1:10,000.
The department, through its Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), is also finalizing the same high-resolution maps for the remaining 40 towns covering five provinces.
DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje reiterated that geohazard maps, which indicate areas susceptible to floods and landslides, are an important tool in disaster risk reduction and management.
"With the 1:10,000 scale geohazard maps, the degree of vulnerability to floods and landslides can be determined in these areas. These maps, which are more detailed and more precise, will enable national and local authorities to see clearly what's on the ground," Paje explained.
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.
“The LGUs bear the principal responsibility for disaster response, and we hope they will use the maps as an evaluation tool to plan their resettlement and rebuilding efforts,” Paje said.
He added: “With these maps, local executives, their barangays and other concerned agencies are now in a better position to craft their disaster management plans and programs.”
He said the new maps would replace previous ones with a scale of 1:50,000.
"The new maps are more precise than those with 1:50,000 scale, thus fast-tracking rehabilitation and development efforts, including proactive measures on disaster prevention and preparedness, especially by LGUs," Paje pointed out.
The DENR launched the detailed geohazard mapping program in 2011 following the completion of the initial nationwide mapping at 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. (DENR)