Mandaue gears up for citywide disaster-mapping system

Local

AFTER the 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck northern Cebu in September, Mandaue City is moving to improve disaster preparedness by launching a citywide disaster-mapping system.

The initiative aims to speed up emergency response and ensure aid reaches residents most vulnerable to natural hazards.

The Mandaue City Council approved a legislative measure establishing the mapping system during its first reading on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

Councilor Carlo Fortuna, who authored the measure, said the system will create a detailed map showing areas prone to storms, floods, earthquakes, and fires.

“Ang primary purpose gyud sa ordinansa is to actually assist the city in identifying kaning mga victims for relief assistance,” Fortuna said.

The system will focus on households and communities at highest risk, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable sectors.

Fortuna recalled the challenges during Typhoon Tino on Nov. 4 , which affected around 70,000 residents.

“That posed a significant challenge to the city in terms of disaster response and relief operations, as well as relief assistance,” he said, emphasizing the importance of preemptively tracking affected families and damage.

The project will use data from Project NOAH to identify flood-prone areas and the Barangay Monitoring System to locate neighborhoods with high exposure to fire and other hazards.

Earthquake risks will also be mapped, including fault lines and historically vulnerable areas.

Past fire incidents in densely populated areas will serve as reference points for high-risk zones.

A joint team from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the City Planning Office, and the City Social Welfare and Services Office will implement the system.

Fortuna stressed that the system will eliminate lengthy verification processes during disasters, allowing authorities to quickly identify affected residents and their specific needs.

“Naa na ta’y necessary nga aid prepared for this particular kind of victims or sectors that may be affected by this disaster,” he said, underscoring the city’s proactive approach.(MyTVCebu)