MANILA, Philippines—Senator Grace Poe called on local government units (LGUs) to maximize the use of the government’s geohazard maps which could identify “danger zones” in the country to help lessen the impact of natural disasters.
Poe made the statement in the wake of Tropical Depression “Usman,” which hit the Bicol region and Samar provinces late last year and claimed more than 100 lives.
READ: Landslides raise ‘Usman’ death toll to 126
“The hazard maps will be one of our guides to make our communities safe from the possible effects of landslides and flooding. Are the LGUs using them, are they aware of the maps and do they know how to use them?” Poe said in a statement Friday.
“This data should be maximized to strategically mitigate disasters such as landslides. These should be effectively integrated in land use planning, land development, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation,” she added.
READ: DENR exec lectures Albay governor on existence of geohazard map of province
The senator added that LGUs must be trained to use these maps and cascade the knowledge to their respective communities.
“Kailangan talaga ay sanayin ang ating mga local government officials na ma-identify iyon (danger zones), lalo na iyong mga kunwari ay katabi ng matarik na bundok na pwedeng mag-landslide o kaya tabi ng ilog,” she said.
Poe also reiterated her call for the immediate passage of the bill that would create the Department of Disaster Resilience and Emergency Management.
Poe filed Senate Bill 1735 in March 2018, seeking the creation of a new agency that will have the authority in the policy-making, planning, coordination, implementation and evaluation of programs relating to disaster risk reduction and management.
“Dapat talaga aside from the geohazard mapping, magkaroon ng separate department ng disaster resilience. Kunwari dito nagkaroon ng landslide o nagkakaroon ng problemang ganyan, ang tagal bago makakuha ng mga equipment para magkaroon ng rescue operation,” Poe said.
“‘Pag may department na ganito, dapat may mga local offices para ‘pag mayroong sakuna mabilis ang response time,” she added.
Poe also stressed that the new agency’s work will not be limited to disaster preparedness but will also lead the relocation, relief operations and rehabilitation of calamity-hit areas. /muf