A Heart for Resilience: Marinduque and DOST-PHIVOLCS Unite for Disaster Preparedness

November 5, 2024

by: VACabalo

Marinduque, known as the "Heart of the Philippines" for its central location in the archipelago, holds significant importance not only geographically but also in the field of geographic mapping. As a key reference point for the Luzon Datum—an essential geodetic system used for mapping across the Philippines—Marinduque’s role is critical. Recognizing the relevance of this geospatial advantage, the province has taken a proactive approach to enhance its disaster preparedness efforts by utilizing the GeoRiskPH platform. The Provincial Government of Marinduque and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the province’s resilience. This commitment led to the conduct of a two-day training on the use of GeoRiskPH platform held from November 5-7, 2024, in Boac, Marinduque. The event was attended by twenty-six (26) participants from one provincial office and (5) five municipal offices, particularly the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMOs), Planning and Development Offices (PDOs), Engineering Offices, and Assessor Offices. Juan R. Fernandez, Provincial Government Department Head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PGDH-PDRRMO) of Marinduque, emphasized the importance of the training in his opening remarks, encouraging participants to view the GeoRiskPH platforms as tools for the greater good. In his address, Fernandez invoked the sentiment, “Knowledge is useless if you don't use it for good.” He urged attendees to apply what they learn from GeoRiskPH training in ways that serve and protect their communities, emphasizing that preparedness and informed action can make all the difference in times of disaster. By actively integrating these tools into local planning and risk reduction efforts, the provincial offices of Marinduque have a unique opportunity to transform knowledge into action, strengthening the island's resilience against natural hazards and ensuring a safer, more prepared province for all. To understand how GeoRiskPH platform can be integrated into Marinduque's local government workflows, participants engaged in focused training sessions. These sessions included hands-on activity with GeoMapperPH for updating local exposure data and demonstrations of HazardHunterPH and GeoAnalyticsPH to identify hazard exposure and generate location-specific hazard assessment reports. Key lectures on building typologies, earthquake, and volcanic hazards reinforced the relevance of these tools for Marinduque’s geologic characteristics, while a Re-Entry Action Planning (REAP) session guided participants in drafting action plans to effectively incorporate GeoRiskPH tools into their operations. Representatives from (5) five LGU and office presented various re-entry action plans to integrate GeoRiskPH tools into their operations. Some of the action plans include creating a tax map to identify properties in hazard-prone areas, identifying property types and ensuring safety standards are met before issuing building permits, and assessing hazards in all barangays during the formulation of their plans. They also aim to manage municipal property information, monitor the updated zoning ordinance, assess the vulnerability of critical facilities and populations, educate communities, and update local building footprints. These actions, supported by platforms like HazardHunterPH, GeoMapperPH, and GeoAnalyticsPH, not only demonstrate the relevance of the tools but also reflect their strong commitment to enhancing disaster resilience in their respective areas. The Province of Marinduque has made considerable progress in enhancing its disaster preparedness through training on GeoRiskPH platforms. However, the real challenge lies in the successful implementation of the action plans developed during the sessions. The commitment demonstrated during the training must now be translated into concrete actions, ensuring that these platforms contribute meaningfully to strengthening the province's disaster risk management efforts and bolstering its resilience. The success of this initiative will ultimately depend on the consistent application of the knowledge gained, ensuring that Marinduque is well-prepared to address future challenges effectively.