DAVAO CITY (PNA) – The National Mapping Resource Information Agency (NAMRIA), in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), led the launching of the Mindanao Topographic Mapping for Peace and Development Project Tuesday at the Marco Polo Hotel here.

Secretary Jesus Dureza, chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), said details of the two-year project designed to update and transform the topographic maps to the Philippine Reference System of 1992, was presented Monday to the target beneficiaries from the private and public sectors from all institutions involved in infrastructure, environmental management, national and local government planning, tourism, investment and security, among others.

Dureza said the Mindanao Topographic Mapping for Peace and Development Project was conceptualized by NAMRIA in June 2009 to update the 50 to 60-year-old topographic maps of Mindanao including the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

For decades, he said government bodies and donor groups have been referring to the Mindanao map made in the late 1950s as basis for geographic data needed in the planning and implementation of their programs and projects.

Using the effective mapping technologies today, the proposed topographic maps will be implemented through digital vector data for Graphic Information System (GIS) technology applications.

On January 15, a partnership agreement was forged between NAMRIA, MinDA and JICA to jointly implement the project.

The Mindanao Topographic Mapping for Peace and Development Project is in line with the development objectives of the Government Information System Plan (GISP) prepared by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to harness the full potentials of information and communications technology (ICT) and ensure wider public access to government information and efficient delivery of the government services to the public.