The Department of the Interior and Local Government Region 3 (DILG R3) in coordination with the Local Government Academy (LGA) and United Nations-World Food Program (UN-WFP) conducted a 3-day basic training on Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) last February 11-13, 2014 at the Maharajah Hotel, Angeles City. It was the first batch of the series of trainings.

   The activity was in line with the disaster program outcome of the department that aim to enhance the preparedness, response capacity and resilience of the LGUs to disasters and adaptation to climate change by creating multi-hazard maps using QGIS.


   Thirteen LGUs from the province of Aurora, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Zambales were targeted and were represented by their local Planning and Development Office, DRRM Officer, and IT staff.


   As Mr. Juanito Berja of the UN-WFP explained, outcome of the activity does not only focus on generating hazard maps but it hopes to create repository of GIS data which can be used by both the National Government and the LGUs, and  come up with pool of GIS experts.

   Highlights of the activity include hands-on training on the system application and GPS device, presentation of outputs and awarding of certificates.