Strengthening Disaster Preparedness: DOST-PHIVOLCS Conducts GeoRiskPH Training for Mountain Province

November 20, 2024

by: KCAlmoneda

The three-day training on the use of the GeoRiskPH platform for Mountain Province was held on November 20-22, 2024, at the Sagada Cave Pension House, Sagada, Mountain Province. This training program was organized by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS), in collaboration with the DOST-Cordillera Administrative Region and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Office (PDRRMO) of Mountain Province, which gathered a total of thirty-three (33) participants. The attendees represented various offices and agencies such as the PDRRMO, Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), Provincial Engineering Office (PEO), Provincial Health Office (PHO), Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), Municipal Engineering Office (MEO), Municipal Assessor's Office (MASO), Mountain Province Environment and Natural Resources Office (MP-ENRO), Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Participants were trained in using and understanding different GeoRiskPH tools, including building and managing their exposure geodatabase through the GeoMapperPH mobile and web applications, assessing hazards in their area using HazardHunterPH, and conducting exposure analysis with GeoAnalyticsPH. Additionally, they were provided with insights into geological hazards and strategies to enhance their disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The training concluded with a collaborative work planning activity, allowing participants to effectively incorporate the said platforms into their disaster preparedness and development goals. Ms. Hansi G. Dinumla, Senior Science Research Specialist from DOST-CAR, outlined the next steps for implementing GeoRiskPH in Mountain Province. She highlighted that the training was the first among the series of GeoRiskPH provincial training in the Cordillera Administrative Region. She encouraged the participants to sustain the efforts through a memorandum of agreement with DOST-PHIVOLCS. At the end of the training program, Ms. Laycha K. eMarra of PDRRMO - Mountain Province highlighted the significant advantages of GeoRiskPH tools in shaping a safer and more resilient future. She described how these tools not only strengthen disaster risk reduction and management but also serve as a foundation for drafting local development plans like the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP), Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), and Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA). By leveraging tools such as hazard maps, early warning system, risk assessments and other decision support tools, Ms. Marra envisions empowered communities working together to fortify their defenses against disasters and build a legacy of resilience.