Department of Environment and

Natural Resources
Mines and Geosciences Bureau

Geohazard Mapping and

Assessment Programme
 
NDCC
December 2, 2009
Outline

 Overview of Natural Hazards in the

Philippines
 Mines and Geosciences Bureau –
DENR
Geohazard Mapping and Assessment
Programme
 Major Issues and Concerns
Overview of Natural Hazards in the
Philippines
The geographic and
geologic setting of
the Philippines (part
of Pacific Ring of Fire
and Earthquake
Belt) \make it prone
to various hazards,
including:

•typhoon/rain-related
•volcano-related
•earthquake-related
•tsunami
Why are we hazard-prone?
Numerous active Faults
and Trenches
Didica
Didicass

Numerous volcanic

Lu st
Tro z on
h
Trench Pinatu
Pinatubo

Ea
bo
Manila

ug
Ph i Mayon
Mayon
belts and active
lipp
Taal
Taal
ine
Fau Ph volcanoes
lt Bulusa ilip
Bulusann pin
Kanla
Kanlaon
on
eT
ren
Generally mountainous
ch terrane and steep
Ne ren
gr ch
T

os

slopes
ch
T ren C
o
u Tr tab
Sul en at Parke Numerous typhoons
Parkerr
ch o
and extended rainy
seasons/periods
Strong and shifting
wave currents
Exacerbated by….
Silted rivers and, in urban areas, clogged waterways
Deforested and denuded forests
POOR SITE SELECTION OF SETTLEMENT SITES!
 Philippines: Along the Typhoon Belt

• ~ 20 tropical cyclones per year enter Philippine Area of Responsibility

• ~ 9 cross the country per year
• heavy rains related to many weather systems – ex. typhoon,
moonsoon, coldfront
 Why are we hazard-
prone?
Baguio City, 1990 Gen. Nakar & Real, Quezon

St. Bernard, So. Leyte

Mt. Pinatubo, 1991

Geohazard Mapping and Assessment
Programme
The Geohazard Mapping and Assessment
Program is an on-going priority
undertaking of the Department of
Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
being implemented by the Mines &
Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

Its main objective is to identify areas in

the country that are susceptible or
vulnerable to various geologic hazards
(GEOHAZARDS), and increase public
awareness in order to lessen or mitigate
the negative impacts of these events.
 Components of the program

3) Data integration and

1) Remote Sensing processing (GIS)
analysis

5) Information
Dissemination

2) Field mapping and 4) Geohazard Map

assessment Production
Data processing and integration (GIS platform): An example

GEOHAZARDS MAP

Topographic Map
+
Vegetation map
+
Drainage map
+
Geomorphic map
+
Slope map
+
Geologic map
HIGH SUSCEPTIBILITY
- Presence of active/recent
landslides
- Large tension cracks that
would affect the
community
- Areas w/ drainages that are
prone to landslide
damming
- Steep slopes
(21-55% gradient)
POSSIBLE ACCUMULATION ZONE
MODERATE SUSCEPTIBILITY areas likely to be affected by
transported landslide materials
•Areas with inactive & old landslides
•Small tension cracks are located away
from the community
•moderately steep slopes (15-30%)
LOW SUSCEPTIBILITY
•Small, shallow landslides (< 1.0 m vertical
displacement) • gently sloping to sloping
(5-15%) terrain
• absence of tension cracks.
 WHERE ARE WE NOW?
• Geohazards mapping and
assessment of some 1,348
municipalities out of 1,618
total or 82% of the country
• Coastal hazards mapping
has covered roughly 2,385
line kilometers of coastal
areas
– The priority provinces of the
eastern seaboard and other
critical areas completed
include Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Sur, Aurora, So.
Leyte, Rizal, Cavite, Quezon,
Ilocos Norte, Leyte, Isabela,
Cagayan, Davao Del Sur,
Compostela Valley, Ilocos Sur,
and the Bicol Provinces
 DENR-MGB GEOHAZARD MAPPING
STATUS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2009
2010
Pre- End
Year 2006 2007 2008 As of End
2006 June of Dec of
June

Target - 450 250 250 250 132

Accomplishment 275 486 291 249 112 (138) (132)

Total 275 696 987 1,236 1,348 1,486 1,618

Percentage
of Total 16.8% 42.5% 60.4% 75.6% 82.4% 90.9% 100%
Country
 STATUS OF
GEOHAZARD MAPS
PRODUCTION

Total Quadrangles
970

86% geohazard maps

produced in digital and
hardcopy printouts
 WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW
• On-going geohazards
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
mapping and assessment in
various areas of the country
–Presently carrying out the
geohazards assessment of
Bukidnon, Misamiz Oriental
and Lanao del Norte

–Assessment work of areas

identified as possible
relocation sites for people
affected by recent natural
hazards and other critical
areas that may be affected in
the future.
MAKING PEOPLE EQUIPPED THRU IEC WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW
• Active information and
education campaigns (IEC)
– Provision of advisories to
concerned LGUs previously
identified as under threat
(1,100 municipalities, 12,212
barangays)
– Distribution of IEC materials
(12,450 posters, 6,200 VCDs, 8,230
pamphlets and 7,235 maps)
–Scheduled to carry out the
Seminar –Workshop on
Geohazards in Ilocos Sur province
for all municipalities by August
 BEYOND MAPPING: GETTING PEOPLE INVOLVED
Direct advisories and critical
data on the physical condition of
the barangays covered by the
mapping and assessment are
provided to the local residents
and officials to raise their
awareness of the situation in
their locality.
 MAJOR ISSUES AND CONCERNS

A) Continuing Loss of competent technical

personnel (about 98 geologists)
 Delay in the completion of critical components of
the program particularly the field mapping and
assessment and final map preparation and IEC
 Diminishing capacity to sustain assistance to LGUs
affected by disasters and those requiring technical
assistance
B) Lack of access to some areas due to:
 Critical peace and order conditions (Samar, Abra,
ARMM Provinces)
 Inaccesibility and difficult terrain (Kalinga-Apayao)
PROPOSED COURSE OF ACTION
TO ADDRESS MAJOR ISSUES

• Request DBM and the Office of the

President to allow the filling up of vacant
positions at the MGB. Only 35 out of 110
technical positions were approved for
filling up during the last request for
authority.
• Hiring and training of contractual
personnel to speed up map digitization
and data processing.
• Increase coordination between
implementers, LGUs, and the military in
accessing critical areas.
 MABUHAY!
www.mgb.gov.ph
MGB Compound, North Ave., Diliman, Quezon
City, Philippines
Tel +63 -2 9288642 Fax +63-2 9209120