DSWD, DENR Link up in Identifying Hazardous Sites in Bikol

MANILA, June 1 (PNA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) have signed a agreement wherein all three government agencies will work together in identifying sites in the Bikol region that are geologically hazardous.

DSWD Acting Secretary Celia Capadocia-Yangco and DENR Secretary Horacio C. Ramos formally inked the agreement last Monday at the DENR office in Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

The project, dubbed as Risk Mapping of Key Urban Centers for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Bikol Region, will be implemented in Albay, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes from June to December 2010.

Under the project, the DENR will produce geohazard map themes for use as inputs in disaster risk reduction and land use planning.

Yangco explained that sound disaster risk management requires vital information on the geographic distribution of hazards and risks, thus knowing where the risky areas are.

The project cost is P3.56 million. Of these, P1.67 million will come from the MGB, while P1.89 million will be from the DSWD which will be used to procure information technology software and equipment for the geohazard mapping; as well as reproduction and distribution of scale maps.

Under the agreement, the DENR will produce geohazard maps for dissemination to local government units particularly for municipalities and barangays in the three provinces.

Local government and barangay officials will be trained how to use the geohazard maps for disaster preparedness.

The DSWD-DENR partnership is part of the Bicol Recovery Project designed to enable the poor and vulnerable groups, especially women and children, to prepare and cope with the impacts of disasters and various environmental emergencies. (PNA)