Laguna de Bay Sediment Group Continues Gathering Related Research
August 23, 2022
The 4th regular meeting of the Laguna de Bay Sediment Group held still via Webex was composed of 2 additional research presentations, 1 each from Japan side and Philippine side as well as planning of the next step/activities to be taken. Dr. Menglu Qin of ICHARM (member of Group 3: Resilience Assessment) presented on "Updating for slope erosion estimation in the Rainfall- Sediment-Runoff (RSR) model". On the other hand, Dr. Aurelio Delos Reyes, Jr. from UPLB introduced his colleague Dr. Joan Cecilia Casila (also a member for Group 1: Data Collection and Sharing) who presented with him their study on "Microplastics and Heavy Metals in Pasig River Surficial Sediments".
Dr. Atsuhiro Yorozuya of ICHARM (member of both Group 2: Flood and Drought Risk Assessment and Group 3: Resilience Assessment) facilitated the discussions in place of Dr. Naito Kensuke who had to attend a training. Other attendees from Japan side were Dr. Aida Kentaro, Dr. Harada Daisuke and Dr. Nagumo Naoko all from ICHARM as well as Ms. Mai Shimizu from the University of Shiga Prefecture. Dr. Patricia Sanchez (Project Manager), Dr. Eugene Herrera (Project Representative from UP Diliman) and Mr. Julius Angelo DJ. Galang (JICA Project Assistant) were the other attendees from Philippine side.
Dr. Qin presented a set of mathematical equations for a simplified method for sediment transport process computation. Sediment/driftwood discharge, sediment size distribution and riverbed variation are predicted and modeled. The ongoing study by Dr. Casila and Dr. Delos Reyes then followed. The goal of their study was to determine the microplastics and heavy metals in the Pasig River, correlate it to sediment textures, percent sand, silt and clay and eventually recommend solutions to address the problem with the 2 mentioned pollutants. They presented and discussed the preliminary results after obtaining samples from 8 stations in Pasig River which were then analyzed through various methods and instruments.
After the presentation, the group reviewed and discussed the updates on the pending tasks from each side. Philippine side have yet to find a suitable location for data and sample collection in Sta. Maria and Pagsanjan River basin as well as to bring in students to take part and assist in the activities. Specifically Dr. Herrera, Dr. Delos Reyes and Dr. Sanchez are still seeking for options for sediment analysis and fine particle analysis which can either be assigned to students or to a paid third-party service provider.
The Philippine side currently finds the tasks challenging due to some logistical concerns but hopes to eventually accomplish these to further advance the efforts of the group.