Baguio city: The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Benguet has ordered all local governments in the province to incorporate three national risk-assessment applications into their disaster management plans to strengthen preparedness and mitigation efforts. In an Oct. 30 communication, DILG Provincial Director Regina Elizabeth Mammag reminded LGUs to adopt HazardHunterPH, GeoAnalyticsPH, and GeoMapperPH, tools developed by the DILG, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), when crafting local development and disaster-related plans.

According to Philippines News Agency, HazardHunterPH provides detailed hazard assessments for locations prone to earthquakes, floods, and landslides. GeoAnalyticsPH allows LGUs to compare and visualize hazard exposure data to support planning and decision-making. GeoMapperPH helps create localized datasets on vulnerabilities and risks to guide more targeted disaster-reduction strategies.

LGUs were instructed to integrate these systems into their Comprehensive Development Plans, Comprehensive Land Use Plans, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plans, and Local Climate Action Plans. La Trinidad Mayor Roderick Awingan said he has directed the municipal DRRM office to study the tools and update local protocols, noting that the applications can strengthen vulnerability assessments and bolster anti-flooding efforts.

'The applications can improve the local town's data on hazard exposure and vulnerability and ensure the issuance of policies for the use of the applications,' he said. Awingan cited the absence of flooding in the town's strawberry farms during Super Typhoon Uwan as a positive sign of ongoing mitigation measures, including extensive dredging.

DILG-Cordillera Director Anthony Nuyda reiterated that updated hazard maps and validated risk profiles are essential, especially in areas historically affected by landslides and flash floods.