Gov’t urged to complete flood risk maps

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Loren Legarda yesterday urged the government to immediately complete the mapping of areas vulnerable to flooding to prevent the occurrence of floods similar to Bangkok’s.

In a statement, Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, said concerned government agencies and local government units should know the extent of vulnerabilities of areas prone to flooding.

The senator explained that flood risk mapping and vulnerability analyses are worth investing in and serve as the sound basis for any flood reduction program.

“Certainly, floods would have significant and lingering economic and social implications on the affected communities and provinces.

The national and local governments should ensure that recovery and rehabilitation efforts would not rebuild the flood risk or introduce new vulnerabilities,” she said.

Legarda said it is time for the country to have a holistic approach to the flood risk problem that includes flood forecasting, warning and response systems.

“Forecasts, however accurate have no value if they do not reach the users and if decisions and actions are not made on time,” she said. –Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star)