Geologists of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Central Office (MGB CO) and Regional Offices (ROs) recently participated in the Workshop on the Standardization of Assessments for Groundwater Resources, Geohazard Vulnerability and Risk, Subsidence Hazard, and Coastal Geohazard hosted by the MGB CO's Lands Geological Survey Division (LGSD) and Marine Geological Survey Division (MGSD).

The activity aimed to standardize the methodologies and outputs of the various assessment and mapping activities of MGB's geosciences sector. It was designed to further enhance the capabilities of geologists in conducting said activities in 2016.

The eight-day workshop included comprehensive lectures by guest speakers and in-house experts, intensive peer discussions, and field demonstrations, such as the karst subsidence assessment in Rizal and beach profiling in Cavite.

A separate session was conducted on the strategies for the Information, Education and Communication campaigns, including the preparation of presentation templates for lectures, and the role of MGB in the Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment. All workshop outputs were subsequently presented, agreed upon, and finalized.

In his welcome address, MGB Assistant Director Dr. Elmer Billedo shared his insights on the geologic community and its potential in contributing to the advancement of the nation.

Ms. Lilian Rollan and Dr. Yolanda Aguilar, Officers-in-Charge of the LGSD and MGSD, respectively, formally opened the program by setting the direction of the workshop and rallying the entire geosciences sector of MGB as it face the challenges ahead.

Ms. Mary Ann Villegas of the Planning, Policy and International Affairs Division; and Ms. Eloisa Legaspi of the Finance Division, provided guidance in the preparation of work plans, and financial matters for the geosciences programs, respectively.

The workshop was held from September 21 to 28, 2015 at the Eurotel Hotel, Makati City.

Geologists from the MGB-CO and ROs in Luzon pose with MGB CO Organizers led by Asst. Director Elmer B. Billedo

MGB Supervising Geologist Alvin Lucio Fernando discussing the Exposure Data Development for Risk Assessment

Guest lecturer Dr. Noelynna T. Ramos, Asst. Professor from the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Geological Sciences discussing karst and pseudokarst geomorphology, coastal geomorphology and geomorphological mapping