The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) participated in the Final Dissemination Workshop of the Linking Disaster Risk Reduction and Land Use Planning (LIRLAP) Project on March 24, 2025, in Manila. The event brought together national government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, and academic institutions to present the results of efforts to address informal settlements in hazard-prone areas across the Philippines.

MGB has been involved in LIRLAP since January 2024, contributing expertise in disaster risk governance during the project’s Gaming Simulation Workshop. Senior Geologist Marie Krystel Hugo and Geologist II Jethro Capino of the Lands Geological Survey Division represented the bureau at the final event.

At the workshop, stakeholders received pre-draft copies of two guidebooks on Resilient Retreat and Resilience Upgrading. These resources aim to assist policymakers in designing climate-adaptive, sustainable settlements, based on best practices worldwide and lessons from pilot areas in Valenzuela City, Quezon City, and Manila City.

Organizers from the LIRLAP Team, along with the participants from various NGAs, LGUs, CSOs, and Academe

During the open forum, participants shared their insights on resilient upgrading and retreat

Dr. David Leonides Yap discusses the rapid rise of informal settlements from 2018 to 2023.

Mr. Jethro Capino formally receives the pre-draft of the Resilience Upgrading and Retreat guidebooks from Dr. Magnaye (UP SURP) and Dr. Matthias Garschagen (LMU Munich)

By: Lands Geological Survey Division