In the wake of mounting online posts about overlooked communities in Northern Cebu hit by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake, Charles Zoilo A. Yana, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BSCpE) student at Cebu Technological University Danao Campus took initiative by developing a crowdsourced mapping website to help responders and donors locate families in need.
Yana, from Liloan, Cebu, launched the Northern Cebu Earthquake Relief Map Guide on October 2, a platform that allows users to pin exact locations and share key details, assisting responders and volunteers in effectively coordinating relief operations in earthquake-hit areas.
Earthquake Relief Map Guide stands as both a vital humanitarian tool and a proud testament to CTU’s commitment to nurturing socially responsive and solution-driven technologists.
He shared that this innovation is entirely self-funded and not project-related, having been built purely on his own initiative to help the community.
Further, he said that the map functions similarly to Google Maps but is not completely precise, as he relied on free tools and available Application Programming Interface (APIs) to quickly develop the site due to the urgent need.
“We have two options to pin locations: one is to search the place there could be, suggest and recommend dropdowns or just simply enter and it will try to locate the location,” Yana explained.
“Second is manually, by clicking that green icon on the lower right corner, users can just zoom and navigate or find the nearest barangay,” he added.
The developer noted a limitation: since affected residents in the North are mostly offline and lack devices, the platform depends entirely on crowdsourcing from people with relatives or information about those in need.
He shared that he pushed forward with support from his partner, who tested the platform and helped promote it. Together, they contacted local government units, like Danao, and Facebook influencers to help amplify the tool’s reach.
Launching a project for the first time can be challenging, and Yana admits, “My confidence in my project is not that high so I’m also hoping for developers out there to help me.
“As of this writing, the app features over 500 pinned locations, highlighting its growing use and effectiveness in coordinating relief efforts.
Through initiatives like Yana’s innovative lifesaving map, CTU proudly reaffirms its commitment to student excellence and recognizes young innovators who develop meaningful solutions, especially during community crises.
