DOST-PHIVOLCS and UP NIH Join Hands for GeoRiskPH

October 9, 2023

by: Elynrae Soriano

On October 9, 2023, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) formally signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health (UP NIH) to establish a partnership on the GeoRiskPH platforms. This collaboration empowers UP NIH to accurately identify small-scale mining areas and Indigenous Groups in T’boli, South Cotabato, frequently affected by environmental disasters, with the assistance of DOST-PHIVOLCS GeoRiskPH tools, including GeoMapperPH, GeoAnalyticsPH, and HazardHunterPH. Data collected from these resources will greatly assist UP NIH as they develop software and mobile systems designed to strengthen the resilience of occupational, healthcare, and environmental systems of local communities in T’boli, South Cotabato. Dr. Teresito C. Bacolcol, Director of DOST-PHIVOLCS, strongly advocated for the utilization of GeoRiskPH. According to him, by maximizing these platforms, stakeholders are not only better equipped to monitor and assess geological hazards but also to protect the lives and livelihoods of their fellow Filipinos. Dr. Eva Maria C. Cutiongco-De La Paz, Executive Director of UP NIH, expressed her gratitude for this collaboration, emphasizing its significance in obtaining accurate data and ensuring the safety of mining areas in T'boli, South Cotabato. Furthermore, Dr. Jinky Leilanie Lu, Program Leader and Research Professor XII at UP NIH, extended her appreciation for this initiative. She highlighted the value of the tools now available to proactively contribute to the development of resilient healthcare and environmental systems for the small-scale mining areas of T’boli, South Cotabato. During her presentation, Dr. Lu explained an overview of their project to provide a better understanding of the impact of this effort, including photographs illustrating how small-scale miners work in areas with high exposure to Cyanide, insufficient lighting, and the risk of mine tunnels collapsing. In this regard, both DOST-PHIVOLCS and UP NIH eagerly anticipate the growth of this partnership, envisioning for these efforts to be replicated in other at-risk small-scale mining areas across the country. In the words of Dr. Cutiongco-De La Paz, '“Simula lang po ito, ito ay lalago pa.”