The Mines and Geosciences Bureau VI (MGB-6), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is nearing completion of its coastal geohazard mapping for San Carlos City, Calatrava and Sagay City in Negros Occidental. It has completed the geohazard mapping of Kabankalan City, Ilog, Sipalay City and Kabankalan City and Hinobaan, Negros Occidental and Iloilo City during in the first semester of this year.
Coastal hazards such as storm surges, tsunami, coastal flooding or inundation, coastal landslide or slope failure, beach erosion, coastal subsidence, accretion or siltation and sand deposition can cause vulnerability in our coastal areas and threaten lives, according to Adeline Grace M. Torreda, supervising geologist of MGB VI during a learning event of a maritime school in Iloilo City.
One of the work targets under the geological risk reduction and resiliency Program of MGB is coastal geohazard mapping of coastal areas nationwide. This activity is an offshoot of the national geohazard assessment and mapping program of the DENR that has developed into a more detailed scale.
Assessing and mapping coastal geologic hazards is an effort to safeguard vulnerable coastal communities. The initiative aims to assess and mitigate the potential impact of coastal hazards. MGB specifically looks into erosion, flooding, and coastal subsidence, accretion or siltation and sand deposition that threaten coastal areas.
According to her, MGB has conducted coastal geohazard mapping for more than 70 percent of the total municipalities and cities of Region 6. We have set annual targets and we have projected to complete the mapping our remaining target of 25 municipalities in 2028, Torreda said.
Assessing and mapping coastal vulnerability is an important reference in increasing the level of awareness and preparedness of communities.
With the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related events, these assessments help to identify areas most at risk and inform local governments and planners to implement strategies that will protect people, infrastructure, and natural ecosystems. It is a critical tool for understanding the vulnerabilities of coastal areas to both natural and human-induced hazards. (MGB VI)
