Climate change project for watersheds launched

LAGUNA, Philippines – A new project on climate change covering three critical watershed areas in Luzon and Mindanao has been launched by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) based in Los Baños.

The “Technical Assistance on Climate Resilience and Green Growth in Critical Watersheds” project is funded by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction through the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Climate Change Commission (CCC) of the Philippines serves as the project’s implementing agency.

SEARCA, in collaboration with the CTI Engineering International Co. Ltd. of Japan, Woodfields Consultants Inc. and ERGONS Project Marketing Consultants, has been chosen by ADB to support the implementation of the 18-month project.

The project contract was signed on April 21 at the ADB headquarters in Mandaluyong City by Ancha Srinivasan and Hiet Tran of ADB, Alexis Lapis of CCC, SEARCA director Gil Saguiguit Jr., Julius Francisco of Woodfields, Teresita Pascual of ERGONS and Shuji Kaku of CTI Engineering.

To be undertaken until Oct. 31, 2015, the project aims to demonstrate climate-resilient growth options in critical watersheds in the Lower Marikina River Basin covering Marikina, Quezon City and Cainta, Rizal; Camarines Sur (Naga City, Milaor and San Fernando), and Davao Oriental (Banganga, Cateel and Boston).

“Priority was given to watersheds in these areas because of their role as water support systems for both upstream and downstream communities,” SEARCA said.

The watersheds were chosen based on their biophysical vulnerability to climate change, high levels of urban poverty and population density with settlements in vulnerable locations and high demonstration potential for integrating climate resilience and green growth into local development at both policy and operational levels.

SEARCA said the project will create plans for green growth and resilience in the critical watersheds considering five dimensions, namely: economic development, resilience to climate change, biodiversity, ecosystems and social development, greenhouse gas emissions and poverty alleviation.

Members from national agencies will collaborate with local government units and other stakeholders on the development and delivery of outputs through participation in dialogues and training activities. – With Rhodina Villanueva