Sunday, December 9, 2012

Loren stresses importance of geo-hazard maps in averting disasters




 Senator Loren Legarda stressed on the importance of disseminating, using, heeding and updating geo-hazard maps to avoid exposing communities to disasters.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, made the call following reports that geo-hazard maps were ignored in some areas, thus resulting to a large number of casualties.

“Geo-hazard maps will tell us where it is unsafe to build homes. It is only logical not to build subdivisions in flood-prone areas or construct buildings along a fault line. We must use these maps to avoid exposing our homes and our people to disaster risks,” she said.

In the geo-hazard map, many parts of Compostela Valley are shaded in red, which means these areas are highly susceptible to landslides.

“It is important that we have these geo-hazard maps, and that these maps should be applied, not only to the regional and provincial level, but also to the local municipalities. Maybe it would even be prudent to ensure that citizens are aware of the vulnerabilities of the communities they live in. It is their right to know the risks present so that they can decide to move to safer places, which should be supported by the local government. In fact, LGUs should already be relocating to safer ground those families and communities in high-risk areas,” the Senator stressed.

“We knew about Typhoon Pablo and we were warned. It is a matter of making our laws work and implementing the disaster mitigation plans and programs on the ground. We also have to update the geo-hazard maps and integrate risk information in development planning, increase investments in improving critical infrastructure, and institutionalize effective and efficient early warning systems that will allow people at risk to respond immediately, therefore averting deaths in disasters,” Legarda concluded.

5 comments:

  1. “Geo-hazard maps will tell us where it is unsafe to build homes. It is only logical not to build subdivisions in flood-prone areas or construct buildings along a fault line." - Loren Legarda

    Too many homes have been built on bad locations. This is great because we are now able to protect people from danger.

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    1. “We knew about Typhoon Pablo and we were warned. It is a matter of making our laws work and implementing the disaster mitigation plans and programs on the ground."

      Ang galing na ng mga LGU's ngayon..malungkot lang talaga na maraming namatay dahil sa illegal logging at ng mining. Kailangan lang ng gobyerno na ma-iimplement ang lahat ng mga laws na ginawa ni Loren.

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  2. The country have very good laws. Pero kadalasan po ay sa LGU nawawalan ng halaga ang mga batas dahil sa hindi pagpapatupad.

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  3. I hope, seryosohin na nga ng buong bansa ito mga geo-hazard maps. Ginawa yan for a reason. Kug di natin ibigyang pansin yan, pwede tayo mapahamak.

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    1. I felt sad when I heard about the deaths. Sana maging lesson na satin itong lahat. Sana mabigyan ng education/awareness ang tao tungkol sa maps na yan.

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