The Valley Fault System (VFS) Atlas and the PHIVOLCS FaultFinder, two of the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) initiatives, has been recognized by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), the Asian Productivity Organization's designated Center of Excellence on Public Sector Productivity, under the categories of Innovation and Productivity Initiatives: e-Government Leadership and Innovation Leadership.

The VFS Atlas and the PHIVOLCS FaultFinder were designed to give the public accurate information on the location of active faults and to aid the stakeholders in their land-use planning, risk assessments, disaster management and other activities related to earthquake effects mitigation and preparedness.

 

Launched on 18 May 2015, the VFS Atlas is a handbook of large scale maps showing in detail areas traversed by the Valley Fault System, an active fault in the eastern part of the Greater Metro Manila Area (GMMA). The atlas was a result of PHIVOLCS' review of the VFS as one of the component activities of the AusAid-funded GMMA Ready Project under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and implemented by member agencies of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council back in 2012. The VFS Atlas makes information readily available to different stakeholders inquiring about areas transected by the VFS.

 

PHIVOLCS Fault Finder is a web and android application capable to do proximity searches to active faults. It may be used to determine the location of Active Faults in an area and to measure the shortest distance between an active fault and a user's current location, which is determined by the gadget's tracking device. It may also be used to measure the shortest distance between an active fault and a specific site, which is identified by a user.

This app is a product of the joint collaboration between the DOST-PHIVOLCS, Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan. It was developed by Dr. Joel C. Bandibas of GSJ with the cooperation of the research and development personnel of DOST-PHIVOLCS.

1,000 printed copies of VFS Atlas were handed out to local government units, national government agencies, and other stakeholders. As of June 2017, 1,611 of the digital copies of the Atlas were distributed in CDs, while 107,036 were downloaded online. Requests for ground rupture hazard assessment as well as lectures for earthquakes and earthquake hazards also increased dramatically following the release of the Atlas.

More than 170,000 users from around the world have visited the FaultFinder site since its launch in July 2016. In the Philippines, majority of its users have searched for information about the Valley Fault System.

DOST-PHIVOLCS distributes a CD containing a digital copy of the VFS Atlas for free. Stakeholders can also download a copy online from DOST-PHIVOLCS official website (www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph).  Go to http://faultfinder.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph or download the app using your android phones to find active fault nearest you.