MGB-7 bares six priority programs for 2012
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, February 16 (PIA) – Six priority or flagship programs are the primary focus of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for this year following a directive from Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje and MGB Acting Director Leo L. Jasareno.
Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-7 Regional Director Loreto B. Alburo said the priority programs include geohazard assessment and mapping for land and coastal areas; groundwater resources assessment; mining industry development program for responsible mining; national mineral reservation; mine rehabilitation; and communication plan for minerals development.
“Geohazards assessment and mapping is pursued to generate information on the susceptibility to various types of geologic and natural hazards” Alburo said.
Alburo said results of the continuing geohazards assessment and mapping is made available to authorities for physical framework, land use planning, land use classification and allocation, project development and disaster preparedness, as well as management and mitigation.
In order to ensure the availability of water, the assessment of groundwater resources is also a priority program of the MGB, Alburo declared.
Under the mine rehabilitation program, abandoned mines must be transformed into environmentally safe areas which include the implementation of rehabilitation measures, reconnaissance survey and risk assessment, development of final mine and monitoring, care and maintenance.
The national mineral reservation program on the other hand, intends to declare mineral-rich areas as mineral reservation to increase revenues from mineral resources.
Regular conduct of monitoring of work programs, safety, health, environment, and social development among the minerals industry is being done by the MGB 7 to ensure compliance to existing laws, rules and regulations.
“We want to make sure that all operating mines and quarries or large scale mining companies which are within the jurisdiction of MGB in Central Visayas are fully compliant to existing guidelines,” Alburo disclosed.
The MGB is a primary government agency under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources responsible for the conservation, management, development and proper use of the country’s mineral resources including those in reservations and lands of public domains. (fcr/hfg/PIA-7/DENR-7)
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RDC 7 urges its members to extend aid to quake-affected LGUs in NegOr
By Amorganda A. Saludar
CEBU CITY February 16 (PIA) -- Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 Chairman Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama urged RDC members to extend assistance to the cities and municipalities of Negros Oriental severely affected by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake on February 6.
Rama issued RDC Memorandum Circular No. 02-2012 enjoining all members of the Central Visayas Regional Development Council to provide aid to local government units (LGUs) of Negros Oriental whose areas were badly damaged by the quake.
The strong quake damaged several infrastructures in Negros Oriental including roads and bridges, according to the memo. The province also had the most number of casualties, of which majority of the victims were from Gihulngan City where landslides occurred.
Based on the memo guidelines, the RDC secretariat shall coordinate with the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) of the concerned LGUs to determine the type of assistance required by their constituents.
The RDC secretariat will then disseminate to the RDC members the specific type of assistance needed by the concerned LGUs.
Donations will be coursed through the RDC secretariat who will then handle the distribution to LGUs not later than February 29. (FCR/AS/PIA-CEBU)
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DSWD 7 establishes two relief operation centers in quake-hit NegOr
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, February 16 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Central Visayas added another Relief Operations Center (ROC) in quake-hit Negros Oriental to hasten the delivery of goods and services to the increasing number of affected victims.
There are now two ROCs in the province after the DSWD 7 put up its first relief center in Gihulngan City last week.
The newly-established ROC is based at the Macias Sports Complex in Dumaguete City near the Capitol building.
To date, the number of affected individuals has reached 230,000 in all nine earthquake devastated sites in the province, according to the DSWD 7.
With the establishment of another ROC, the DSWD said it hopes to improve its delivery efforts faster, better and more efficiently to service some of the affected towns situated near Dumaguete City.
Areas to be served by the new ROC are Manjuyod, Bindoy, and Ayungon while the other ROC in Guihulngan City serves the towns of Guihulngan, La Libertad, Jimalalud and Tayasan.
Towns and interior villages which used to be inaccessible after the quake can now be served faster, easier and better.
Last week, relief goods from DSWD-7 in Cebu City, Manila and other parts of the region were delivered via vehicle-to-vehicle and human chain method just to meet the victims’ urgent needs for immediate food, water and other basic necessities. The roads were then un-passable and affected towns have no water and electricity and stores were also closed.
Meanwhile, donations within and outside the region sent via navy boats and C130 aircraft carrier can now be coursed through the relief center in Dumaguete City.
Other donations and other government relief supplies from the northern part of Negros island as well as Cebu can be channeled via San Carlos City in Negros Occidental.
As of today, the DSWD already released assistance amounting to more than P19 million to the eight affected towns and cities.
All relief goods intended for the affected areas were already delivered last Saturday which included rice, water, canned goods, used clothing, mats, blankets, slippers, cooking and eating utensils and detergents among others. (fcr/hfg/PIA-7/DSWD-7)
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RDRRMC-7 alerts local disaster teams in C. Visayas on LPA threat
By Amorganda A. Saluda
CEBU CITY February 16 (PIA) -- As PAGASA continues to monitor the latest Low Pressure Area (LPA) spotted in Mindanao that might intensify into a typhoon, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) 7 has alerted all local disaster teams in the region to remain vigilant and prepare pre-emptive measures to mitigate the impact of any calamity.
According to the latest PAGASA advisory, the LPA is estimated at 100 kms east of Southern Mindanao as of 2:00 a.m. today.
The same advisory stated that Southern Luzon, Mindanao and Visayas will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming widespread rains over Bicol and Visayas which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.
Specific weather forecast for Central Visayas’ including Cebu states that light to moderate and at times heavy downpour of rains will be experienced in the evening today until Friday, based on PAGASA-Mactan’s latest weather bulletin this morning.
The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) here who chairs the RDRRMC 7 has instructed all its provincial offices and other local DRRMCs to have the necessary measures in place to prevent any untoward incidents especially the loss of lives due to landslides.
Just last Tuesday, three barangays in Cebu City classified as highly susceptible to landslides and flooding experienced minor landslides as heavy rains battered Cebu
Even in the absence of any tropical storm, the RDRRMC 7 advised all local government units including its respective disaster risk reduction and management councils in all provincial, city, municipal and even down to the barangay level to prepare the necessary steps to ensure safety in their respective communities.
The RDRRMC 7 along with AFP-Central Command-Operation Center and the Police Regional Office 7 Operations Center is keeping track on the latest weather advisories for them to come up appropriate measures and pre-emptive actions.
Barangay Disaster response teams in the region also conducted warning notices to areas prone to flooding and activated their respective Search and Rescue teams while local DRRM Councils are actively monitoring the situation in their area of responsibility. (FCR/AS/PIA-CEBU)