Iloilo City – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau VI, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is currently conducting a vulnerability and risk assessment (VRA) in the province of Guimaras. Two teams from the Geosciences Division composed of geologists and GIS staff are currently in Buenavista and Nueva Valencia, Guimaras on an ongoing VRA of the two municipalities.
MGB VI completed the VRA of San Lorenzo, Guimaras and San Joaquin, Iloilo in the first semester this year, while the technical team will proceed to Sibunag, Guimaras to complete the targets for VRA this year.
The VRA is a continuing program of the MGB in line with the agency’s geological risk reduction and resiliency program. Ms. Mae Magarzo, chief of the Geosciences Division of MGB VI explained that the VRA is an assessment of the degree of vulnerability and potential risks of an area given the exposure of the three factors – population, built-up areas, and roads – to rain-induced landslides and floods. The 1:10,000 geohazard maps of MGB as a reference give the data on the vulnerability of barangays and sitios to rain-induced landslides and floods. The level of vulnerability may be low, moderate, high, or very high.
Exposure maps from the VRA give data on the population (potential), the extent of built-up areas, and roads considering their exposure to the varying levels of vulnerability to landslides and floods. MGB VI works closely with the local government units in the conduct of field activities. (MGB VI)