MANILA, December 8, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today 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:
Geo-hazarding is necessary by the country, however, it is also as important to always think of ways wherein we can protect settlers from staying in dangerous flood areas.
“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.
I agree.. this is great. Thank you for heeding the call of so many of us about geo-hazarding. People should always take the steps to know if their areas are safe to live in and it is the government's job to help them.
Onga. DI naman nagkulang govt natin sa pagwarn natin. I hope seryosohin na ng LGU's yung pagimplement ng envt laws at preparedness para wala ng casulaties next time
Lesson learned - Though shall NOT ignore geo-hazard maps.
> Sana yung Local Govt maging strictna when it comes to this kasi tayo din ang kawawa sa huli.
>Thanks kay mam LOren na laging nagpapaalala sa ati nito
Hearing that we had number of deaths again really makes me sad. Like what Senator Loren said "It is a matter of making our laws work and implementing the disaster mitigation plans and programs on the ground. " - Let's implement this thing starting today. Let's aim for 'Zero Casualties'
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