The PHIVOLCS FaultFinder, released in 2016, has revolutionized active fault assessment in the country, providing the public an easy and more user-friendly gateway to accurate active faults information. This year, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) funds another initiative proposed by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) to improve hazards and risk assessment.
DOST-PHIVOLCS commenced the project: Geospatial Information Management and Analysis Project for Hazards and Risk Assessment in the Philippines or GeoRiskPH last August 1, 2018. PHIVOLCS is joined by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the National Mapping Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). Together, these agencies endeavor to create standards in the way government data and information necessary for hazards and risk assessment are contributed and retrieved to and from national database systems. Through GeoRiskPH, DOST-PHIVOLCS will develop prototype platforms, tools and methods to initiate efficient generation of information and products for hazard and risk evaluations.
The Project envisions to benefit various government agencies and the public as information on hazards and risks will be provided at the most efficient and convenient ways. Through this approach, information critical to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and climate change initiatives may now be easily accessed by the government and the public. Long-term effect of the project would be the mainstreaming of DRR and climate change information into various related plans.
There are 17 additional project-based researchers, with backgrounds in GIS, IT, Computer Science, Geology and Geography, who are contributing to fast track the work. PHIVOLCS, together with the Technical Working Group from the Collective Strengthening on Community Awareness on Natural Disasters (CSCAND) agencies, will provide the necessary guidance to direct these researchers and ensure sustainability of the GeoRiskPH initiatives.
The Project will collaborate with other government agencies to ensure that the databases that will be developed are robust and that the platforms produced are usable by various stakeholders. DOST intends that more government agencies will be a part of GeoRiskPH in the coming years.
