Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje is urging all local government units (LGUs) to declare as “no habitation zones” areas in their respective municipalities and cities that have been identified as high-risk to landslides and flashfloods.
Paje likewise appealed to local officials to consider the relocations sites identified by the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureaus (MGB) in order to minimize the adverse impact of geological hazards on the people.
Paje’s twin appeal came on the heels on the landslide and flooding incidents that claimed several lives caused by the recent typhoons that entered the country’s area of responsibility.
“I am appealing to the LGUs to make use of the geohazard maps distributed by the DENR in order to avoid loss of lives and properties especially at this critical time when the typhoons passing the country trigger heavy precipitation on land,” Paje said.
According to Paje, the geohazard maps that were distributed to LGUs last year not only identify the areas susceptible to landslides, floods and flashfloods but also the level of their susceptibility such as high, moderate or low.
“I am strongly recommending that areas that are identified as high risks should be avoided for habitation and the residents immediately relocated,” Paje stressed. He said that the MGB has also indicated in the geohazard maps possible relocation sites which the LGUs may consider in their resettlement program.
Under the existing protocol, LGUs shall evacuate inhabitants living in flood- and landslide-prone areas to relocation sites in times of impending typhoon or other weather disturbances that could bring about heavy rains.
Paje said that the 1:50,000-scale geohazard maps of the entire country have already been distributed to 1,600 municipalities and cities and 4,000 barangays nationwide as part of the risk reduction strategy of the government.
Information dissemination activities regarding the use of the maps were also conducted in different municipalities and barangays were also conducted by the DENR.
Meanwhile, Paje said the densification of the geohazard maps is now underway throughout the country. The map densification project, which is being implemented by the MGB until 2013, involves the production of a more detailed version of geohazard maps, having a scale of 1:10,000. PAO, DENR
