The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office (RO) No. XIII conducted its virtual Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign on the Results of Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (VRA) Project and Training-Workshop on Understanding Risk Exposure Maps via Zoom Platform on December 14-16, 2020 for the Municipalities of Lanuza, Madrid and Marihatag, Province of Surigao del Sur. 

Prior to the virtual IEC Campaign, a pre-coordination meeting via Zoom Platform was conducted for the said municipalities on December 9. Due to the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic, MGB RO No. XIII has adjusted its protocol in order to conduct the IEC virtually.  This shift to a virtual medium will allow the Office to fully realize the IEC objectives while ensuring the safety of both the LGU participants and the MGB team.

The IEC Campaign aimed to intensify awareness and provide additional technical input to the Local Government Unit (LGU) regarding Risk Exposure Analysis and its significance to comprehensive land use, development, and disaster risk management planning.

During the activity, MGB RO No. XIII geologists discussed the following topics:

  • Understanding Geologic Hazards;
  • Introduction to MGB’s National Geohazard Assessment Program and the Presentation of the Updated Geohazard Susceptibility Map;
  • Introduction to Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (Risk Exposure Assessment);
  • Production of Risk Exposure Maps;
  • Understanding Risk Exposure Maps; and
  • Workshop on Risk Exposure Assessment.

Issues and concerns were raised and discussed after each presentation. The VRA Technical Reports and two sets of Risk Exposure Maps were turned over to the LGU’s Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management (MDRRM) Officer and Municipal Planning and Development (MPD) Officer prior to the schedule of the IEC proper.

Towards the end of the activity, the Office acknowledged the support given by the LGUs of Lanuza, Madrid and Marihatag through the MDRRM Officers for the successful conduct of the virtual IEC Campaign and Training-Workshop.

By: JUSRIT ELVIE B. SEGUIS
Chemist III
Analytical Laboratory Section