Government R&D climate change project covers Cordilleras

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna, Philippines — A government research and development project is seen to address the negative effects of climate change in the Cordilleras.

The  Science and Technology Action Frontline for Emergencies and Hazards, or SAFE, aims “to address the negative impacts of climate change and implement science-based solutions to agriculture programs.”

Launched by the Department of Science and Technology-Cordillera Administrative Region, the SAFE program on Disaster Risk Reduction on Climate Change (DRR-CC) Impacts in Agriculture Farms in CAR is a multi-sectoral initiative spearheaded by DOST and the Los Baños-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

Also involved are the Highland Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Research and Development Consortium and six state universities and colleges in the Cordillera region. The SUCs are the Abra State Institute of Science and Technology (ASIST), Apayao State College (ASP), Benguet State University (BSU), Ifugao State University (ISU), Kalinga State University (KSU), and Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC).

The project involving ASIST covers the impacts of DRR-CC on vegetable farms in Abra; that of ASC, agricultural farms; BSU, vulnerable terrace farms; ISU, rice and vegetable farms; KSU, vulnerable coffee farms; and MPSPC, vulnerable farms.

PCAARRD, headed by acting executive director Reynaldo Ebora, has earmarked P43 million for the implementation of the projects by the six state universities and colleges.

Along this line, it has signed separate memorandum of agreement with the SUCs at a program held at the BSU in the capital town of La Trinidad.

“We look at this opportunity for the university to learn from other universities, at the same time to capacitate some of our researchers in the Cordillera,” BSU president president Feliciano Calora Jr. said.

DOST-CAR director Victor Mariano said: “On behalf of DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, we are fully supporting the SAFE program. The SUCs in the Cordillera region are doing R&D to study ways to minimize the negative effects of climate change, particularly in agriculture.”