As part of the government agencies’ accountability to present update reports on their major accomplishments, the regional directors of DPWH and DENR, and the manager of NIA-MARIIS-DRD presented their update reports on their research ventures during the second day of the Stakeholders Forum on Integrated Flood Risk Management in Cagayan River Basin on July 15, 2022. Specifically, Engr. Carlo C. Ablan, Manager of NIA-MARIIS-DRD, gave an update on ongoing programs and activities on Magat dam safety and reservoir sedimentation. Moreover, Engr. Loreta M. Malaluan, Regional Director of DPWH Region 2, represented by Engr. Luzviminda Banatao, also gave an update on Build Back Better Program on Flood Mitigation in Cagayan River Basin: Task Force on Structural Measures, while Dir. Gwendolyn C. Bambalan, Regional Director of DENR Region 2 focused her discussion on vegetative measures. Essentially, they presented their practices and operation highlights on water resources management and watershed rehabilitation programs and some of their proposed projects and way forward, which all adhere to their respective agencies’ mandates.
On the other side, Prof. Sameh Ahmed Kantoush and Mr. Tadahiro Fukuda explicated the topic “Proposed Measures for Magat Reservoir Rehabilitation: Technical Feasibility and Institutional Arrangements”. Dr. Kantoush specifically highlighted the impacts of dam and reservoir sedimentation as well as the use of turbidity current meter and 2D numerical simulations for Magat reservoir. On the other hand, Mr. Fukuda systematically presented research-based procedures to rehabilitate the Magat reservoir.
As the international event culminates the series of talks, a question-and-answer portion was conducted to intensify the multipartite information exchange of the stakeholders. The focal point of the Q&A part was on sediment and erosion mapping and monitoring of Magat tributaries, interagency communication mechanisms, implementation of Japan’s good practices to the Philippine context, analysis of particles through a turbidity meter, training master plan for Cagayan and Magat, excess water management, and water shortage during summer. The resource speakers responded by explicating their designs and practices on multiagency vulnerability assessment, tree-planting activities, institutional arrangement through the Cagayan River Basin Management Council (DENR and DPWH) and Water Management Division (NIA), continuous knowledge-sharing activities on sediment management, and improvement of dam operations and rainfall-runoff forecasting.
Then, Prof. Guillermo Tabios III, RD Lead of DOST-NRCP presented the Philippine Water Resources Management Plan, and discussed some Philippine Water resources planning and management initiatives. He also accentuated his major contributions in crafting the Philippine Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan and the Unified Resource Allocation Framework for Water Supply and Sanitation, National Irrigation Master Plan 2020-2030, Flood and Drainage Management Master Plans of the DPWH, and the draft guidelines on dam safety and safe operation of dams and reservoirs in the Philippines.
To magnify the collaborative efforts of all the stakeholders, a workshop by group, facilitated by the National Economic and Development Authority team, was deliberately conducted to accentuate the need to formulate plans focused on research and development collaborations, capacity-building programs, technology transfer, and institutional arrangements. Subsequently, the output presentation and open forum concluded the series of activities slated for this stakeholders forum. The cornerstone of the open forum was on the collaborative science-based decision and policy-making to bring forward integrated coastal and water management in the Cagayan River Basin.
To value the views and reactions of all the participants of the international venture, they were asked to give their impressions to express their appreciation for the synergies of all the agencies and organizers involved in the success of this forum. To further enrich the knowledge-sharing activities between the stakeholders, Prof. Sumi also shared a real-time weather monitoring or gauging system as an innovative river engineering project in Japan.
Lastly, Dr. Jennelyn Lacar-Raymundo, a Project Staff Level 2 of IFWaRM, recapitulated the series of activities shared by the international and local partners throughout this remarkable undertaking. To this end, For. Enrique Pasion, Chief of the Conservation and Development Division of DENR Region 2 finally concluded the second day of the stakeholders forum with a mind full of learning and a heart filled with appreciation. He even encouraged the forum delegates that the knowledge gained in the stakeholders forum should be done in practice as it is the next thing to do; it is a science shift to governance.
After the formal culmination of the program, there was a meeting among dignitaries from JWA, Kyoto University, ISU, NIA-MARIIS, and DOST-PCIEERD at the NIA-MARIIS Division 1, Batal, Santiago City to deliberate on the proposed measures for Magat reservoir rehabilitation.
Indeed, the international and local stakeholders took their partnership to a greater height to channel their research ventures on flood risk management to their community partners through knowledge-sharing activities.
