In an effort to address the urgent need to further protect communities from the devastating effects of climate change, geologists from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) MIMAROPA Region spearheaded an Orientation on Geologic Hazards for Provincial/Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (P/CENRO) personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) MIMAROPA Region on March 6-8 in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
This three-day activity, which includes a geohazard orientation fieldwork in San Teodoro and Baco municipalities, aims to capacitate PENRO and CENRO field officials to proactively respond to problems and issues on geologic hazards in the region, and to acquaint themselves with mapping techniques, and use or application of MGB-generated hazard maps for disaster preparedness and emergency response decisions.
The training program is in line with the instructions of DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu to all DENR field offices, particularly the PENRO and CENRO, to be prepared and responsive to the dangers and adverse effects of excessive rainfall associated with extreme weather disturbances. This directive came following massive flashfloods and landslides in recent months that claimed hundreds of lives and displaced several others in Benguet, Cebu, and Bicol.
DENR Asec. Reynulfo Juan, OIC for Field Operations – Southern Luzon, emphasized the importance of identifying local hazards in order to have faster coordination and communication in response to these threats, thereby reducing related impacts.
Meanwhile, DENR MIMAROPA Regional Executive Director (RED) Henry Adornado recognized how this activity will help PENRO and CENRO personnel to be equipped with knowledge and competence as far as geologic hazard is concerned. He said this initiative is part of the priority programs of DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu which was reiterated during the New Year’s call.
“It is very imperative for us to be educated and to understand these geologic hazards. Part of our function now is to relay to our constituents, to the local government, kung ano ba ‘yung klase ng hazard na meron sila – flood ba, landslide, o earthquake. We cannot just really communicate or impart these acquired knowledge if we do not understand these issues,” RED Adornado said.
Through this undertaking, PENRO and CENRO personnel in the Region are expected to be aware of the various geological hazards that may occur within their areas of responsibility; be oriented on how to read and understand geohazard maps; have initial knowledge in identifying geological hazards in the field; and effectively communicate these existing threats to the public and concerned agencies.
These learnings would also enable them to provide valuable inputs in the preparedness efforts and formulation of plans for emergency response decisions, and implementation of disaster risk reduction management activities of their respective Municipal and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils.
For his part, MGB MIMAROPA Regional Director Roland de Jesus recalled the 2006 incident in the municipality of Saint Bernard in Southern Leyte, and how it should have been a wake-up call for regulators to take necessary measures to address the recurring issue on disaster preparedness and recovery in a country that is vulnerable to natural disasters.
“We as regulators can only address the problem head-on if we have a deeper understanding and appreciation on how to maximize the use of our geohazard maps – enabling us to proactively participate in the implementation of DRRM activities, and better prepare communities when the inevitable strikes,” RD de Jesus said in his speech.
In the MIMAROPA Region, Marinduque and Romblon are identified as among the top 10 provinces that are highly susceptible to landslide, while the islands of Mindoro are among the areas that are susceptible to flooding. This is based on the initial assessment conducted by the MGB Central Office prior to the implementation of the National Geohazard Mapping Program in 2005 which aims to identify areas in the country that are susceptible or prone to various geologic hazards. (P.R)
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