Senator to DENR: Make sure LGUs understand geohazard maps

Senator Loren Legarda on Tuesday called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to ensure that local officials have copies of geohazard maps and that they fully understand them to reduce risks and prevent disasters.

 

In a hearing of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources which she chairs, Legarda said a Mines and Geosciences Bureau official she talked with was unaware if the documents have been distributed to the local government units.

 

“Binilin ko na yan two years ago,  Typhoon Pablo pa na mamahagi ng geohazard map in every province, city and municipality. (Ang sagot sa akin) nasa website po. Paano magwe-website ang barangay captain?” Legarda said.

 

“Dapat bibigyan ng map at ipapaliwanag isa isa. Tinanong ko, ‘have you given it to the 49 LGUs of Region 11? (The answer was) I think so.  If the one supposed to disseminate information answer me I think so, hindi maari yun,” she added.

 

Legarda said geo-hazard maps were important as it allowed the leaders to be aware of the danger zones in their areas and prepare for any eventuality.

 

“Hinihimok ko ang Mines and Geosciences Bureau na ipamudmod lahat ng geohazard maps sa lahat ng 1,600 cities and municipalities all over the country at ipaliwanag sa lahat ng  leaders ng lokal na pamahalaan na gamitin ang geohazard map para makasagip ng buhay lalo sa panahon ng tag-ulan,” she told reporters after the hearing.

 

“ Ibig sabihin pagbigay ng mapa, ipaliwanag ang ibig sabihin ng purple, dilaw, orange. Dito dapat ang eskwelahan, dito dapat ilikas ang tao. Pag merong DOST-PAGASA warning, dapat ilikas ang tao sa lugar na ito.  Mahalaga yan dahil hindi na mangyayari uli ang nangyari sa Yolanda, Sendong, Pablo, Ondoy pag binibigyan ng halaga at sundin ang geohazard map,” Legarda added.

 

She said in many instances in the past, natural hazards turned into major disasters because of the lack of understanding of the geohazard maps. She said communities were built on landslide prone areas and other danger zones because they were not aware of the risks.

 

“We have to use science to save lives and livelihood. We need to translate science to practice and one way to effectively do that is to make sure that geohazard maps are understood by all, especially by local chief executives and DRR officers," she said.

 

She said the information and education campaign on the importance of the use of geohazard maps could be done in every school and LGU through a multi-sectoral workshop.

 

"Our local officials need to have the valuable, life-saving information regarding risks present in their communities, all of which can be found in the geohazard maps. With the knowledge of the risks present in our communities along with effective early warning systems, we should be able to radically minimize the casualties and damages when a natural hazard strikes," Legarda said. —NB, GMA News