Philippines Geo-hazard Maps

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is producing 1:10,000 geo-hazard maps for distribution to high-risk local government units, according to the Philippine Information Agency, PIA.

Leo Jasareno, director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, said that the department is targeting to map 160 municipalities with the better detailed 1:10,000 scale maps.

Jasareno said that these maps are bigger, thus more detailed than the current 1:50,000 geo-hazard maps that were given to each municipality.

According to Jasareno, the budget for the program would be P300 million for a period of five years.

However, he said the main problem they will be encountering in the mapping project would be the lack of geologists to undertake said project.

Currently, Davao Region has only one geologist to do the job. Priority areas to be mapped would be the towns in Compostela Valley Province, identified to be a high risk area for landslides.

Jasareno said these maps are a big improvement nearing those used by developed countries that are utilizing 1:5,000 scale maps.

The 1:10,000 scale mapping and geohazard assessment project is one of the major programs of the DENR set to be implemented this year.

Among the details that can be found in a 1:10,000-scale geohazard map include parameters or features in the area that may affect ground stability and the type of landslides that can possibly occur in the area.

Relocation sites for affected residents can also be plotted which is severely limited to the available 1:50,000-scale maps, according to DENR Secretary Ramon Paje. (RGA-PIA 11)