Philippine counterpart project holds 2nd meeting with Technical Working Group
August 3, 2022
The DOST PCAARRD funded Philippine counterpart project of HyDEPP SATREPS entitled: Impact Assessment of Floods and Droughts in Selected Agricultural Municipalities in Laguna conducted a visit to two of its target areas on July 29, 2022. The areas visited were Sta. Cruz and Pila, Laguna. As the 2nd meeting of the project proponents with the Technical Working Group (TWG), the visit consisted of clarifying the duties of both sides in the completion of the project as well as how the project progress will be monitored. The stakeholders were also given the opportunity to articulate each of their own observations of the flood and drought problems currently encountered in their respective areas.
The team was led by Dr. Myra David together with Ms. Maria Cristina Alvarez and Ms. Therese Olviga, project staffs of the local counterpart project and members of Group 4: Economic Scenario and Policy Recommendation as well as Ms. Catherine Gigantone, project member and secretariat of the UPLB Interdisciplinary Studies Center for Water (UPLB IdSC Water). Ms. Christine Jane Ramacula and Mr. Paul Edrine Mapoy (full time science research analysts of the local counterpart project) were also present as the main organizers and coordinators of the visit. Mr. Julius Angelo Galang (JICA Project Assistant) also joined as part of the preparation for the visit of the Japanese partners on September 26.
Pila was headed by Mr. Honorio F. Del Rosario (Aplaya Brgy. Captain) while Sta. Cruz was headed by Mr. Joshua Frederick Vitaliz, EnP from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO). Other officials (brgy captains, brgy councilors, municipal councilors) as well as engineers and staffs from the Municipal Environment Offices and MDRRMO were also present. Venues for each were at the Aplaya Brgy. Hall and the Municipal Hall in Pila and Sta. Cruz respectively.
For both areas, Ms. Ramacula gave the introduction as well as a review of the previous meeting followed by Dr. David facilitating the discussion of the main agenda for that day. The list of the members of the TWG were completed and the duties and responsibilities of each side were elaborated. The plan for the policy brief to be formulated from the science-based assessments was also presented. Some members started to raise concern regarding the details of the project and some were already able to describe their experiences on the causes and effects of the floods and droughts in their areas.
To further understand the situation of each area, each barangay was tasked to prepare a presentation (with pictures and descriptions) of the said experiences on floods and droughts in their areas. This will be the main agenda for the next meeting.