TACLOBAN CITY — The Mines and Geosciences Bureau – Regional Office No. VIII, represented by Geologist Celes Emilio D. Sia, won the Best Technical Paper in the MGB 2023 Annual Technical Forum held in Chali Beach Resort, Cagayan de Oro City, on Sept. 26–29, 2023, hosted by the MGB Regional Office No. X.
With the theme #TheFutureIsMINE: Innovative Technologies and Practices in Geosciences and Minerals Industry, the Annual Technical Forum (ATF) 2023 showcased three (3) Special Papers (Non-Competition), 15 Technical Papers and seven (7) Policy Papers or a total of 25 papers coming from the MGB Central Office and Regional Offices.
Geologist Sia won first place in the technical paper category with his paper entitled Geohazard Exposure Analysis of the Population in Eastern Visayas: Integration of Updated 1:10,000 Scale Geohazard Maps, 2020 Census Data and GIS Processing with Macro-Enabled Spreadsheets.
Photos during the presentation of papers and awarding of winners of the MGB Annual Technical Forum in Cagayan de Oro City on Sept. 26–29, 2023. (MGB-8)
Sia’s study aimed to underscore the importance of continuously updating geohazard maps and integrating them with demographic and administrative data for effective disaster management and community resilience in Eastern Visayas. Meanwhile, MGB Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) and MGB Region X came in secon and third place, respectively.
For the Policy Paper category, the winners were Regions XI, XIII and I, respectively. The best presenter was given to Region XI in the person of Engr. Bonnielyn S. Ong-Guimary. Lastly, the winner of the poster competition was Engr. Norberto L. Manlapas Jr. of Region IV-A (CALABARZON).
The ATF’s Board of Judges included Geologist Abigail June L. Agus of Galerio Environmental Consultancy Inc., Professor Carlito B. Tabelin of Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology, and Former DENR Assistant Secretary Nonita S. Caguioa as the chairperson. (AAC/MGB-8/Celeste Faith de la Cruz)
