HyDEPP-SATREPS kicks off Japan Training 2023
July 28, 2023
The HyDEPP-SATREPS Japan Training 2023 started last June 24th with the arrival of 10 project members from the Philippine as participants. The training, supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), aims to educate and upskill participants on data management, river flow monitoring, hydro‐agricultural modeling, flood hazard mapping and risk assessment, and local economic growth prediction modeling technologies. Joining the training from the University of the Philippines Los Baños are Mr. Francis John Faderogao (Group 1 member), Engr. Allan Tejada, Jr. (Group 1 member), Dr. Rubenito M. Lampayan (Study 2 Leader), Dr. Roger A. Luyun, Jr. (Study 1 Leader/Group 2 member), Dr. Joan Cecilia C. Casila (Group 1 and 2 members), Mr. Paul Edrine Mapoy (Group 3 member), Engr. Christine Jane Ramacula (Group 3 member), Mr. Luisito Abueg (Group 4 member), and Ms. Veronica Castillo (Group 4 member), while joining from the University of the Philippines Diliman is Engr. Bryan Clark Hernandez (Group 2 member).
An opening ceremony was held the following day at ICHARM Tsukuba City, Ibaraki to officially welcome and orient the trainees. The event was also participated online by project members from Japan and the Philippines sides; Dr. Masaki Yasukawa (The University of Tokyo), Dr. Abdul Wahid Mohamed RASMY (ICHARM), Ms. Jessa Aquino (UPLB), from JICA and JST; Mr. Taichi Minamitani (Director, DRR Team 1, Disaster Risk Reduction Group, Global Environment Department, JICA), Mr. Tsukasa Soma (JST), Ms. Kojima Saori (JICA), Ms. Atsuko Himeno (Project Coordinator), and Forester Rochelle Lantican (Project Assistant).
Mr. Minamitani (JICA) gave a welcome address, highlighting big facilities in Japan to be visited by the trainees, including the technologies it features helpful for disaster-prone countries. Moreover, Prof. Toshio Koike (Executive Director, ICHARM) gave his message and outlined experiences that the training has to offer for the nourishment of the body and mind of project members essential for their contributions to their field of specialization and country.
Dr. Lampayan, as a representative of all the trainees, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity given by JICA and the efforts made by the Japan side of HyDEPP SATREPS for organizing the training. Dr. Miho Ohara (Project Leader, The University of Tokyo) also stated her gratitude to all agencies and individuals involved to make the training possible and hoped to have a fruitful learning experience during the period of activity.
As compared to the previous HyDEPP SATREPS Japan training, the activity this year is based on the project’s four study groups, where two participants were selected to join a course led by the Groups 1 to 4 study leaders from the Japan side. The training was divided into short and long courses that will end on August 3 and August 10, respectively.