In a bid to help the Province of Ilocos Norte prepare for disasters, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted massive information dissemination to all barangays of the province.
The activity is part of the DENR-MGB Geohazard Mapping and Assessment Program currently implemented by the Government of the Philippines thru the MGB. Being a critical component of the National Government Disaster Management, the Program is one of the on-going priority undertaking under the 10-point agenda of President Arroyo. It aims to identify areas in the country that are susceptible or prone to various geologic hazards. Likewise, it provided vital pieces of information to various stakeholders in order to lessen or mitigate the impacts of such hazards.
The Seminar-Workshop presented the results of Geohazard Mapping and Assessment conducted in the Province of Ilocos Norte. It was participated by officials at the provincial, municipal/city and Barangay governments as well as secondary public school teachers from all districts of the province. Considering the great number of participants, municipalities were clustered into five, each cluster was held at different venues, while another cluster was intended for the secondary school teachers. It was held from July 21-26, 2008. Cluster 1 covered the municipalities of Pagudpud, Adams, Dumalneg, Bangui, Burgos and Pasuquin; Cluster for the City of Laoag and Municipality of Bacarra; Cluster 3 for Vintar, San Nicolas, Sarrat and Piddig; Cluster 4 for Solsona, Carasi, Banna, Dingras, Marcos and Nueva Era; Cluster 5 for Batac City, Paoay, Currimao, Badoc and Pinili and Cluster 6 for the Public Secondary School Teachers.
The activity had introduced to the participants the various geologic hazards affecting their particular areas such as landslide, flood, coastal erosion and earthquake. The participants were also taught how to read and interpret geohazards maps, how to use the maps in land-use planning and disaster risk reduction. As such, the participants were encouraged to participate in activities to mitigate the impacts pf these hazards. In the workshop, groupings were made according to municipalities/cities. Landslide and flood susceptibility maps prepared by the MGB were provided to each group in order for them to evaluate the susceptibility ratings of the geohazards in their respective areas. By knowing the apparent dangers that are likely to occur in their areas, the participants are expected to be better equipped in making plans and actions to mitigate the adverse impacts of hazards in their localities.
Meanwhile, a total of 1014 municipalities have been assessed nationwide. Maps with 1:50,000 scale for landslide and flood susceptibility had been prepared by MGB under the Geohazard Mapping and Assessment Program. The assessment of the remaining 646 municipalities and completion of landslide and flood susceptibility maps are scheduled to be done by 2010.
The successful conduct of the seminar-workshop is very relevant and timely considering the series of geohazards-related disasters that affects the different parts of the country, like the recent typhoons and floods that brought the loss of lives and properties also in the province of Ilocos Norte.