Benefits of updated country map discussed

A PROJECT expected to produce an updated Philippine map with high-resolution images would be beneficial to the Philippines, allowing effective delivery of goods and services up to the grassroots level in the archipelago.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje pointed this out on Tuesday, enumerating the benefits of a national mapping program.

Set to be conducted this year, the unified mapping project - to be undertaken by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) - aims to provide up-to-date geospatial information important for the country's social, economic, and physical development.

"Around 80 percent of planning, decision-making, and operations in the different government agencies are being influenced by locations," Paje said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Geospatial data is needed for legislation, policy development for resource allocation and management, land use management, agricultural production, urban planning, zoning and development, communications, transport, defense and public safety, among others.

Paje declined to elaborate on project cost since he disapproved the practice of some government agencies that spend for aerial and satellite photography for their respective mapping projects.

The practice results in the duplication of expenses and efforts, data incompatibility, and underutilization of map products.

"Under the unified mapping project, there will be pooling and sharing of the resources among different government agencies engaged in mapping activities. This will eliminate duplication of work, optimize the utilization of government funds and eliminate corruption," Paje noted.

The project involves the updating of the 1:50,000 topographic map series for the entire country using high resolution satellite imagery.

It also involves the implementation of a more detailed 1:10,000 mapping of 50 percent of the country's entire land area.

Details that can be found in a 1:10,000-scale map include parameters or features in the area that may affect ground stability and the type of landslides that can possibly occur in the area.

"The more detailed and larger 1:10,000-scale map is useful for the production of a more detailed plan, and for projects that require more accurate data sets," Paje said. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)