A CTU computer engineering student develops an Earthquake Relief Map Guide

CEBU PROVINCE-- Charles Zoilo A. Yana, 21, of Tayud, Liloan, Cebu and a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BSCpE) student from the Cebu Technological University (CTU) Danao Campus has developed a crowdsourced mapping website to help responders and donors locate earthquake-stricken communities in Northern Cebu.

In a Facebook post of the Cebu Technological University (CTU)-Danao Campus, Yana explained that the Northern Cebu Earthquake Relief Map Guide works similarly to Google Maps, though not fully precise, as it relies on free online tools and available application programming interfaces (APIs).

Yana said that the guide map allows users to pin exact locations and share key details, enabling volunteers and relief groups to coordinate assistance more effectively. Currently, the relief map has recorded more than 500 pinned locations, highlighting its growing role in relief coordination.

"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. Second is manually, by clicking that green icon on the lower right corner, users can just zoom and navigate or find the nearest barangay," Yana explained this at his presentation launch on Thursday, October 2, days after the 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit Cebu.

"We've created this website: https://northerncebu-reliefmap.netlify.app/ The goal is to help highlight areas—especially those in the mountains—that haven’t received enough attention yet. This map can guide donors and volunteers who want to visit affected communities, making it easier to locate them," he announced this on his Facebook page Charles Zoi.

“The project is entirely self-funded and not school-related, but was built purely out of my initiative to assist affected families, but launching a project for the first time was very challenging,” he said.

He admitted that his confidence in his project is not that high, he was hoping for other developers to help him also. Yana added that he pushed for forward with support from his partner, who tested the platform and helped promote it.

“Together, we contacted local government units, like Danao, and Facebook influencers to help amplify the tool’s reach,” he said, adding that he noted some limitations—since affected residents in the north are mostly offline and lack devices.  The Relief Guide Map depends entirely on crowdsourcing from people with relatives or information about those in need. 

CTU-Danao officials express their pride in Yana’s innovation and reaffirms the university’s commitment to developing socially responsible and community-driven technologists, its Facebook post reads. (Photos: Facebook grabs from CTU/Charles Zoi)