CEBU CITY, Cebu, April 28 (PIA) -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 recently organized an Information, Education, and Communication Campaign on Vulnerability Risk Assessment (VRA-IEC) in the Municipality of Lazi, Siquijor Province.

This event is part of the DENR-MGB's National Geohazard Assessment and Mapping Program, which aims to increase awareness and provide technical assistance to the Local Government Unit (LGU) on Risk Exposure Analysis.

The activity emphasized the importance of achieving sustainable development through Comprehensive Land-Use, Development, and Disaster Risk Management Planning.

During the campaign, the MGB-7 team led by Supervising Geologist Josephine Aleta discussed several topics, including Understanding Geologic Hazards, MGB's National Geohazard Assessment Program, Introduction to Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, and Production of Risk Exposure Maps.

They also conducted a workshop on Risk Exposure Assessment, discussed Mainstreaming Gender and Development (GAD) Program in VRA, and addressed concerns and issues after each presentation.

MGB-7 provided the VRA Technical Reports and three (3) sets of Risk Exposure Maps, which were turned over to the municipal officials and department heads, local officials of Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

At the end of the campaign, Lazi Mayor Phil Moore Largo thanked the MGB7 team for their efforts in conducting the VRA, providing geohazard and risk exposure maps, technical assistance, and training-workshop.

Largo acknowledged the significance of the specialized maps as their guide and how they boost disaster preparedness and Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment planning.

GhEGS has planned additional initiatives in the coming future to assist the local government units of Central Visayas in formulating disaster preparedness strategies and contingency plans.(HFG/PIA7 with reports from MGB7)