THE Mandaue City Government is mulling a new ordinance that mandates the mapping of high-risk areas to identify vulnerable families ahead of calamities.
Councilor Carlo Fortuna said the measure will utilize tools like geohazard maps to create a database of households to expedite relief distribution.
The initiative aims to prevent delays in identifying victims, a problem experienced during previous disasters like typhoon Tino where an estimated 70,000 residents were affected.
“The target of the ordinance is for us to be fully mapped in all forms of calamities or disasters, particularly storms and flooding, which is our number one concern,” Fortuna said.
He said the ordinance will also cover potential earthquakes, fault lines, areas considered highly at risk, and fire hazards especially since the city experienced fires in densely populated communities in the past which rendered many people homeless.
He said the City struggled with listing who the real victims were to determine whether homes were flooded, partially damaged, or totally destroyed. The dilemma greatly delayed response efforts and the distribution of aid, he added.
To prevent the same situation from happening, Mandaue City plans to use advanced tools and systems such as Project Noah to detect flood-prone areas, the Bureau of Mines geo-hazard map for landslide-risk zones, and the barangay monitoring system to locate highly concentrated communities.
Fortuna explained that while the City is prepared for calamities, it lacks the deep detail needed to identify families and households per danger zone.
“It’s not that we don’t have disaster preparedness, but we currently do not have detailed information on which specific households, homes, or families are inside those high-risk areas,” he said.
Fortuna said the measure will help responders determine early if a home has a PWD, senior citizen, or other vulnerable individuals, allowing aid to be prepared even before a calamity hits.
Fortuna detailed that the response will be led by a composite team composed of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, City Planning Office, and the City Social Welfare Service to ensure quick action without need for lengthy validation during emergencies.
“The City will be immediately ready to provide assistance,” said Fortuna. / ABC