Japan to assist Mindanao mapping

A project to update and digitize Mindanao’s decades-old topographic maps has secured technical assistance from the Japanese government initially valued at ¥1 billion, a statement of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) and an e-mail from the Manila office of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said. The two-year project, to be jointly implemented by the National Mapping Resource Information Agency (NAMRIA), MEDCo and JICA, aims to update and convert Mindanao’s topographic maps into digital vector data using geographic information system (GIS) application, the statement read. For decades, government agencies and donor groups have been referring to Mindanao maps made in the late 1950s as basis for geographic data needed in carrying out their projects and programs. Said maps were based on aerial photographs taken from 1947 to 1953. NAMRIA has been working on updating the Philippine National Topographic Map Series that will replace the 50- to 60-year-old published maps of the entire country. The revision of the original maps has been proposed for years, but had not been undertaken due to financial constraints. In an e-mail, JICA said Japanese technical assistance for the "Topographic Mapping for Peace and Development of Mindanao" project will consist of provision of experts in the field of topographic mapping. A team of these consultants is expected to arrive next month to establish the scope of work to be done, requirements, and validate the value of the project which NAMRIA had pegged at ¥1 billion in its proposal. JICA said the updated maps will be useful for disaster-risk management, resource management and environmental protection, as well as support for ongoing and upcoming JICA projects in Mindanao. The MEDCo statement quoted its chairman, Undersecretary Virgilio L. Leyretana, Sr., as saying: "It’s about time to update our decades-old topographic map which serves as an indispensable tool in development planning." He said the project jibes with ongoing work to drafting the Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework Plan, which will guide such thrusts for the next 10 years. - BusinessWorld