MANILA, Philippines —  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) commenced the P18.3-million coastal geohazard assessment and mapping project to identify the susceptibility of 97 coastal provinces to erosion and sea level rise.

The DENR through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) aims at identifying the susceptibility of areas to coastal erosion as a result of a number of geologic, oceanographic and atmospheric factors, including sea level rise due to climate change.

"With the completion of our geohazard mapping project on landslide- and flood-prone areas, the MGB is set for coastal geohazard mapping, with particular attention on the effects of the rising sea level due to climate change," DENR Secretary Ramon Paje explained.

"This will give us solid information as to which coastal areas or shorelines are experiencing erosion or are prone to erosion to enable the government to plan for a more responsive risk reduction program for these areas and other climate change mitigating and adaptation measures," he added.

However, Paje noted that sea level rise can also result from man-made activities, such as beach mining.

"Beach resorts and other infrastructure constructed along coastal areas are the ones that will be primarily affected by erosion due to rise of sea level," Paje said.

The MGB's Marine Geology Division started the coastal geohazard mapping project this year in the coastal areas of Leyte, Northwestern Luzon, Albay, and Camarines Sur.

In a report to Paje, MGB acting Director Leo Jasareno said among the environmental changes that will be looked into under the project includes the erosion and accretion or sedimentation of shorelines.

For this year, Jasareno said 97 coastal provinces were identified as priority areas namely, Cagayan, La Union, Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Negros Oriental and Cebu.