TACLOBAN CITY– The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) recently handed over two high-specification Geographic Information System (GIS) workstations to the city government of Borongan, aimed at bolstering disaster preparedness and facilitating efficient environmental planning.
GIS is a computer-based tool utilized for capturing, storing, checking, visualizing, analyzing, and interpreting geographic data, enabling individuals to easily discern patterns and relationships within spatial information.
A ceremonial turnover and signing of the deed of donation took place on January 30 with Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda, representing the city government, and Eduardo Bornilla Jr., the program manager of USAID’s Climate Resilient Cities (CRC) initiative.
Bornilla, in his remarks, emphasized that the GIS workstations will play a crucial role in processing and integrating climate data into local plans and programs, aiding in the understanding of disaster impacts on communities, and facilitating resource prioritization for adaptation efforts.
Mayor Agda, for his part, highlighted the significance of these GIS workstations in enhancing operational efficiency, promoting transparency, and facilitating decision-making processes within the city government.
The mayor further said the importance of the GIS workstations to the City Agriculture Office (CAO) and City Planning and Development Coordinator’s Office (CPDO) as they provide hardware support for mapping activities under the CRC Project.
These offices can utilize the equipment for crafting development plans, recording agricultural data – particularly for programs like Dukwag Agrikultura, maintaining databases for local farmers’ profiles, and implementing nature-based solutions to climate adaptation challenges, the city mayor said.
Mayor Agda underscored the importance of such technological advancements, emphasizing their role in streamlining structural development and planning processes, which are crucial for Borongan’s preparedness.
He recognized the potential of this infrastructure in attracting business investments to the city as this could help boost the local economic activity.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
