SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) — The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is urging communities to utilize geohazard maps for disaster preparedness.
These maps are essential tools for assessing the safety of local lands and planning evacuation routes to reduce risks associated with flooding and landslides.
Geologist Vilma Vecino, chief of the Geosciences Division of MGB Region 1, highlighted during a press conference on October 23 that the maps are crucial for identifying safe zones.
The geohazard maps, developed through field surveys and satellite imagery, help pinpoint areas prone to natural disasters like soil erosion and landslides.
To support these efforts, the MGB is implementing various information, education, and communication (IEC) initiatives.
These include distributing geohazard maps to local government units (LGUs), conducting orientations, and partnering with educational institutions to promote disaster risk reduction.
“We have equipped barangay officials and LGUs with updated maps to guide local communities in disaster planning and awareness,” Vecino stated.
For municipalities, the maps serve as critical resources for land use planning, infrastructure development, and emergency response strategies.
They empower municipal planning and development coordinators and municipal disaster risk reduction and management officers to take preemptive measures, monitor vulnerable barangays, and manage resources effectively during emergencies.
The MGB encourages the public to remain vigilant and make full use of the tools available to understand local hazards.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Vecino emphasized, underscoring the importance of readiness to minimize disaster impacts.
For more details on MGB’s geohazard mapping and IEC efforts, residents can visit the MGB office or its website: https://region1.mgb.gov.ph/. (AMB/AIHR/PIA Region 1)
