Google Maps launched in RP

MANILA, Philippines - Global Internet giant Google has launched its Google Map Maker application in the Philippines, which will provide a detailed map of the Philippines for locals, tourists and potential investors.With the launch, the Philippines will be the first Southeast Asian nation where the application is available. "The Philippines has a challenging topography featuring a diverse landscape and many remote, unexplored regions," Google said in a statement.Google Map Maker will let local users locate, draw, label and accurately render existing tourist destinations and create maps of uncharted areas, making these visible to tourists and investors for the first time on the Google Map Web site. The maps will include street names, house numbers, parks, forest areas and other geographical features."This capability provides new commercial opportunities for local residents and businesses based on information provided by local users," the company said. "Google Map Maker is all about leveraging the knowledge of local experts found in every neighborhood and in every town and city," it said. It added that since map data is collected from people who have first-hand knowledge of the area, the information becomes more meaningful and relevant to users.Palawan is a an example of a beautiful Philippine location with limited online visibility, out-of-date maps, and many uncharted areas. Google Map Maker is expected to have far-reaching implications on the country’s agricultural and environmental landscape as well. Detailed geographical information can be used to identify arable land, route irrigation, and in extreme cases, ensure accessibility to areas suffering from natural and man-made calamities. — Paolo Luis G. Montecillo, BusinessWorld