Iloilo City – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office VI (MGB VI) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted a lecture on geologic hazards to around 275 senior high school students of the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU), Arevalo, Inc. on September 25, 2024.
MGB VI supervising geologist Dr. Leilanie O. Suerte engaged the interest of senior high school students with her presentation entitled, “Understanding Geology and Geologic Hazards.” Dubbed “Pahanumdom: Senior High School DRRR Talk Series with the theme ‘Empowering the Next Generation for a Resilient Future’, the learning event is part of the ongoing advocacy of JBLFMU (Arevalo) Inc. to promote awareness and preparedness among students regarding Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction (DRRR).
According to the school administrator Mr. Robert O. Parcia, MSMM in his opening message, “The best defense is awareness and preparedness in the face of natural calamities. It’s not just about being resilient but being prepared.” Today’s activity is a timely event considering we are in the season of the year when we experience many typhoons, he added.
JBLFMU (Arevalo) invited MGB VI to lecture on geologic hazards to equip the students with a deeper understanding of the importance of disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and response, particularly in the context of environmental hazards such as geologic hazards.
MGB VI lecturer Dr. Leilanie O. Suerte talked about the different types of landslides and floods specifically induced by heavy rainfall. She expounded on the triggering mechanisms, contributing factors, and measures to prevent disasters from happening, achieve zero casualties, and lessen negative impacts on the environment, infrastructures, and livelihood.
She discussed the National Geohazard Assessment and Mapping Program of the DENR and MGB. She said the knowledge about geologic hazards and maps is useful in deciding where to build houses, roads, and businesses. Dr. Suerte also showed a success story during a past landslide event in a municipality in Iloilo where lives were saved because of being aware of the proneness of the locality to landslides, thus, there were no casualties despite damages to houses because of timely and well-managed evacuation.
Another topic was coastal geologic hazards discussed by Ms. Adeline Grace M. Torreda, MGB VI supervising geologist.
Safety Officer of JBLMU (Arevalo), Inc. 2/M Karl Danielle H. Sira said their goal was to have an expert discuss the topic of geologic hazards who would equip and inspire students “to be proactive in disaster preparedness.” (MGB VI)