Disaster risk prevention and mitigation technologies have gone from last to first in the public awareness very quickly following the deadly flashfloods spawned by Tropical Storm Sendong in December, 2011 which killed thousands and left many more homeless in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities.
This was convincingly demonstrated barely a year later when Typhoon Pablo, one of the strongest to ever hit the country, again hit Cagayan de Oro. However, due to timely interventions brought by lessons learned from the previous disaster, there were zero casualties this time.
DOST-10 RD Al Alamban explains the PHIVOLCS Hazards Relief Map of the PH to Engr Elpie Paras and Cepalco Exec Ralph Paguio as PHIVOLCS Malasag Stn OIC Marcial Labininay looks on (photo by Mike Baños, NPN)
Those two natural calamities and the region and nation’s response to them have made Northern Mindanao, specifically Cagayan de Oro, a leading exponent of disaster risk mitigation and management. The lessons learned from that time will be demonstrated to the public in a series of forums hosted by the Department of Science and Technology Region 10 on Tuesday, July 26, at the Grand Caprice, Limketkai Center as part of the regional celebration of National Science and Technology Week 2016.
“The recent advances made by the DOST led Project Noah for example, has enabled for the first time the synergy between science technology and disaster risk reduction and monitoring applications which allow anyone to access real time weather data, hazard mapping and geospatial information systems,” said Engr. Elpidio M. Paras, regional science and technology ambassador for business, during the launching of NSTW 2016 last Saturday, July 23.
“The rapid flow of information has from what used to be a centralized weather data monitoring and dissemination system to an instantaneous localized wealth of information enabling every Juan to blunt and mitigate the effects of climate change,” he added.
Paras noted how barely a year after Tropical Storm Sendong ravaged Northern Mindanao, Project Noah contributed valuable information rapidly such that during Typhoon Pablo, a zero casualty figure was experienced by the fact that everyone had evacuated to higher ground before the flash flood waters inundated the riverbanks.
RD Al Alamban, Engr Elpie Paras, & Cepalco Exec Ralph Paguio check the PHIVOLCS disaster risks model of the country under the watchful eyes of PHIVOLCS Malasag Station OIC Marcial Labininay (photo by Mike Baños, NPN)
The morning forum will start with Marcial P. Labininay, OIC, Malasag Station, DOST-PHIVOLCS; Anianita R. Fortich, Sr Weather Specialist, MPRSD, DOST-Pag-ASA; and Narvinso S.Tan, Project Coordinator, DEWS, DOST-10 discoursing on DOST Early Warning System Technologies.
“The Phivolcs and Pag-ASA, the most popular DOST agency, reaching a million hits on Facebook, has been at the forefront of disaster prevention, it might interest you to know where the potential hazards are in our region so that we are forewarned,” noted DOST-10 Regional Director Alfonso P. Alamban.
“Little is known about the recently launched Filipino weather channel called DOSTv, which is now being streamed via YouTube with five daily episodes Mondays thru Fridays,” Paras added. “We plan to offer this soon in combination with Parasat’s Cagayan de Oro Weather Channel (PCTV CH4).”
Engr. Dexter S. Lo, Founding Director, Xavier University Engineering Resource Center (XUERC) will follow with a presentation of the XUERC Experience with Flood Footprint Mapping undertaken in the aftermath of the Sendong disaster.
The morning session will be capped with a presentation and discussion of Flood Controls by Engr. Aldrin S. Albano, Planning & Design Division, of the Dept. of Public Works and Highways Region 10.
The afternoon session hosted by the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber) will focus on Solid Waste Management.
Ms. Elvisa B. Mabelin, Chief and focal person of the Solid Waste Management Division of the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office will present updates and development of the city’s Solid Waste Management efforts.
Both sessions are open to the public free of charge.
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