To strengthen disaster preparedness and speed up aid distribution, the Mandaue City Council has approved a legislative measure that will establish a comprehensive mapping system to identify high-risk zones and track affected residents during emergencies.
The measure was approved on its first reading on Wednesday, December 4, 2025.
Councilor Carlo Fortuna, the author of the measure, said the initiative aims to produce a complete and detailed map of the city’s vulnerability to various disasters, particularly storms and floods.
The mapping will also cover earthquake-related risks, such as fault lines, and highlight which communities are most exposed to different hazards. Fire-prone areas will be included as well, referencing past incidents in densely populated sections of the city that caused heavy damage and casualties.
“Ang primary purpose gyud sa ordinansa is to actually assist the city in identifying kaning mga victims for relief assistance,” Fortuna explained.
He recalled that when Typhoon Tino struck on November 4, 2025, around 70,000 residents were affected. At that time, a major challenge was determining who the actual victims were—whether they were flooded, displaced, or had homes partially or completely destroyed.
“That posed a significant challenge to the city in terms of disaster response and relief operations, as well as relief assistance,” he said.
To address these issues, the city will coordinate with several agencies, including the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the City Planning Office, and the City Social Welfare and Services Office.
Fortuna noted that tools such as Project NOAH can help identify flood-prone locations, while the Barangay Monitoring System can determine areas with large populations vulnerable to hazards such as fire.
If approved, the measure will simplify assistance distribution by allowing the city to identify vulnerable households ahead of time, including those with Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and other at-risk sectors.
He added that the goal is for the city to be prepared even before a disaster occurs.
“Naa na ta’y necessary nga aid prepared for this particular kind of victims or sectors that may be affected by this disaster,” he said.
Implementation of the mapping system will be led by a composite team from the CDRRMO, BFP, City Planning, and CSWSO, which will consolidate all data and records.
Fortuna stressed that the system will eliminate the need for lengthy verification of victims or damaged structures during disasters.
“Easily to identify na kung naay mahitabo kay identified naman ang families or persons living in a specific area,” he said.
With the mapping system in place, the city government can provide immediate assistance whenever calamities strike (VCL)
