The series of multipartite Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Management (CCA-DRRM) Forums spearheaded by Isabela State University and Kyoto University was culminated at NIA-MARIIS Division III, San Manuel, Isabela on November 11, 2022. This fourth series of the forum was participated by the Local Government Unit of San Manuel, Irrigators Associations, NIA-MARIIS-Division III staff, and ISU-Echague Campus project staff. This institutional and community collaboration accentuated the involvement of local communities and government agencies in climate change, flood, and drought risk management.
Initially, Engr. Isagani A. Concepcion, Acting Division Manager A of NIA-MARIIS Division III, explained the significance of the forum by highlighting the salience of informing everyone about the effects of climate change and flooding. Likewise, he requested the participation of the ground-level stakeholders in the community survey as the outcome of the forum will be translated to a research and development initiative designed to propose appropriate measures to minimize and control flood. Afterwards, Engr. Marianne B. Antonio, Supervising Irrigators’ Development Officer, properly acknowledged the participants of the forum.
The highlights of the program were the presentations of Dr. Khagendra Pralhad Bharambe and Ms. Hikaru Goto, Japanese partners of ISU, which stressed the significant role of the local community in the institutional arrangements vis-à-vis global warming as instigator of flood and drought phenomena. They also explicated the impacts of climate change to various sectors, and flood risk management through mapping techniques.
As a strategy to amplify the voice of nature through a holistic approach in communication between or among national government agencies, Dr. Orlando F. Balderama, Vice President for Research and Development, Extension and Training, together with Dr. Bharambe and Ms. Goto, joined the convergence meeting at NIA Office, Ramon, Isabela. This science-academe-government-community collaboration was organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to involve national government agencies, Local Government Units (LGUs), communities, and other stakeholders within the Magat reservoir in discussing the present situation of the dam including the watershed areas supporting its facilities. The technical group also revisited the rehabilitation plan for the protection and development of the dam.
With these multilateral negotiations in local and international grounds, numerous stakeholders are expected to work together in searching for science-based solutions and collaborative schemes to promote effective watershed management and ensure water security for the country.
