• Title: A Look at MGB's Groundwater Vulnerability Maps and Potential for Improvement
• Speaker: Alen Clyde A. Canlas. Senior Geologist, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. IV (CALABARZON)
• Date: 12 February 2026
• Time: 16:00 to 17:00 PHT (08:00 to 09:00 BST)
• Location: Online (Microsoft Teams)

Groundwater vulnerability maps are critical tools for decision-making in land use planning and water resource management, considering the importance of groundwater in our daily lives. In the Philippines, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau is undertaking the mapping of groundwater vulnerability of the country's various watersheds using a modified DRASTIC method. This talk is an opportunity for us to review the idea behind the modified DRASTIC method, including its strengths and weaknesses, and explore further ways to improve the methodology towards more relevant groundwater vulnerability maps.

Mr. Canlas is a Senior Geologist employed at the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. IV CALABARZON and a Ph.D. candidate for the Environmental Science program at the Ateneo de Manila University. He specializes in groundwater resource assessments, including water quality determination, and integrating information technology in environmental studies. His current research focus is integrating and studying the applicability of GIS-based models used in other facets of Environmental Science into predicting contemporary groundwater and environment-related problems.