The Philippine Online Chronicles

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has launched an online map that details the country’s disaster zones.

The geo-hazard map, which covers more than 1,600 municipalities around the country, allows individuals, local governments and developers to check whether properties are located in danger zones which might be affected by floods, typhoons, landslides or the like.

"It says there [in the map], what the permanent danger zone is, what is hazardous and what are the low-lying areas,” said Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

"Everyone can just go to the website and check the hazards pertaining to their locality," he added.

The map, which was put together by the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), is also set to affect pricing of houses. "Buyers will be guided by the map of disaster zones that was released by the DENR,” said real estate agent Sonia Bello. "Some areas will be devalued," she warned.

The map is also meant to guide government officials when transferring residents from noted danger zones to safer areas.

After Ondoy and Pepeng

The online map had been in the works since 2006, but was only launched in the wake of last year’s Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, which resulted in the inundation of up to 80 percent of Metro Manila.

Many have pointed out that the metropolis remains unprepared for natural disasters like Ondoy and Pepeng.

Up to 20 typhoons strike the Philippines every year. In 2009, around 2,000 people across the country were reportedly killed due to tropical storms, floods, landslides, and maritime disasters.