DENR urges LGUs to use geohazard maps for disaster prep

Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga urged local government units (LGUs) on Tuesday to use the geohazard map provided by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) to minimize casualties during severe weather conditions.

Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, Civil Defense administrator, emphasized during a Palace briefing on Friday that utilizing these maps could have prevented disaster in light of Typhoon Marce's impact and urged LGUs to take the geohazard maps seriously moving forward.

Loyzaga highlighted the importance of using the map for pre-emptive evacuation decisions, particularly in areas prone to flooding and landslides based on recent data from PAGASA.

The DENR has submitted updated lists of flood- and landslide-prone areas to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) for distribution to LGUs, enabling them to prepare for potential impacts like those caused by Tropical Cyclone Marce.

Nepomuceno noted that relocating people from danger zones is challenging but necessary as storms are becoming more frequent and emphasized that these maps should be a crucial resource in the development of Comprehensive Land Use Plans.