ASIAN CLIMATE SCIENTISTS MEET

ASIAN CLIMATE SCIENTISTS MEET

Jakarta, Indonesia

Nov. 16-21, 2014

The 1^st WCRP (World Climate Research Programme) CORDEX Coordinated Regional climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) Science and Training Program were attended by Southeast Asian Climate Scientists with the primary objective of coming with up high resolution climate change scenarios which is the core in the studies related to climate change impact, vulnerability, risk assessment at the local and regional scales. The said training was held in Citeko Training Center, Bogor. Furthermore, the SEACLID (Southeast Asia Climate Downscaling Experiment) /CORDEX aims to downscale a number of CMIP5 GCMs for Southeast Asia region through sharing-task basis among the institutions, countries involved, and later on expanding to other Asian regions  and other parts of the world.

The group encourages and capacitate  young scientists  working on climate modeling and soon to published a peer-reviewed articles pertaining hereto and hopefully to be part in the IPCC working groups .

The Mission of CORDEX SEA are the following:

               

                a. Proficiency of regional climate science

                b. Visibility of local scientists to global arena (IPCC report)

                c. Providing database of future climate change database to the region

                d. Promoting young scientists to participate in the project

                e. Upstreaming data for driving the downstream utilization of future climate data

                f. Servicing sectoral of future climate change data

                g. Better projection than statistical downscaling

                Working on climate modeling and hydrologic modeling all the more boast my interest in shaping my niche: climate and hydrologic modeler. I firmly believed that coming up with the climate projection with uncertainties is much more better that coming up with baseless climate change adaptation. At a personal level and as a neophyte, challenges are expected along the way. Facing this inadequacy is something worthwhile specifically tracking climate change and its impacts.

Lastly, I am grateful and appreciative on how the organizers and sponsors made themselves available and willing to spend financially in order to convene climate scientists in the Southeast Asia region. This only shows how this pressing problem of our time causes every individual and organization to take decisive actions in order for us to be resilient from the threats of Climate Change Impacts.

Here are some of the photos taken during my visit. 

	Opening ceremony

 

Workshop on Climate Modeling using CORDEX Model

A Resource Person sharing a Topic on: Climate Change

PROF. NYMPHA E. BRANZUELA – a Resource Person sharing a Topic on: Climate Change

June is Environmental Month in the Philippines. Like most environment-related activities nationwide, it usually culminates or ends with an Environmental Forum with the theme: Raise your voice and not the level sea rise! In Assumption College, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley, I was invited to talk on the impact of Climate Change last June 27, 2014.

Compostela Valley province was severely hit by the typhoon Pablo (International name: BOPHA) on December 05, 2012. An estimated 130,000 families were displaced and 70% of the total population lost their homes and livelihoods. There are 2,000 reported deaths after the Typhoon Bopha slammed directly to unsuspecting communities on that early dawn. In fact, the typhoon ravaged communities have taken three (3) years to recover (http://www.interaksyon.com/article/53530/compostela-valley-will-take-3-years-to-recover-from-pablo-says-governor) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjLYO6mlz0k).

Damages during ‘typhoon Bopha’ in Nabunturan, Compostea Province last December 05, 2012.

 

That tragic and traumatic experience that  environmental awareness heightened among the people. The Environmental Forum entitled: Ridge to Reef: Climate Change Update was a fitting title. Common people have not known the impacts of Climate Change, Climate Change Projections. Local Government Units are still wanting on scientific knowledge on what potential adaptations to adopt to be resilient from the impacts of climate change.

Being a trained educator on Climate Change I didn’t hesitate to take part of their endeavor. Despite of my pregnant condition,  I took the 3 hour travel from Davao City. I accepted their invitation to be a Resource Speaker of these young generations to share my expertise in Climate Change.

 

                        

                         The environmental forum was attended by 300 High School Students with their respective teachers,  employees from Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and 15 municipalities or Local Government Units.

                         Having been trained by the prestigious school in the Philippines ( UPLB) and a grantee of International Development and Research Center (IDRC)-University of Nairobi (UoN), Kenya Research Grant, I have made that solemn vow to share whenever, wherever, whatever I can to all to impart my knowledge, ideas, and expertise in the field of Climate Change to my countrymen.

DAVAO WATERSHED STAKEHOLDERS SUMMIT 2014

Prof. Nympha E. Branzuela attended the Watershed Stakeholders’ Summit 2014 held in Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City, Philippines held last June 24, 2014. The theme of the summit is “Unifying Watershed Stakeholders’ Participation towards addressing the Challenges of Climate Change”.

The summit was hosted by the Davao City Watershed Management Council (WMC), a body composed of all watershed key actors headed by the City Government of Davao, Barangay officials, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, City Planning and Development Office, Davao City Water District,  Non-government organizations, academe, among others.

Significant topics discussed, among them were:

1.       Climate Change and its Local Impacts

2.       Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change through Rainwater Harvesting (Davao City Ordinance No. 0298-09

3.       Sustaining Forest Restoration through Establishment of Riparian Forest Corridor

4. Davao City Development in relation to Davao City Vulnerability and Adaptation   Assessment

             5. Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change through Rainwater Harvesting

             6. Salient Provisions of the Rainwater Ordinance Implementing Rules and Regulations

             7. Update  on Davao River Basin Management Alliance and Water Quality Management Areas (WAQMA)

Atty. Romeo  Cabarde Jr.  synthesizes the watershed summit and identified nine (9) recommendations:

1.  Strengthen local data generation for climate change modeling;

2. Bring climate change education to the ground for community-based environmental conservation;

3. The Local Government Unit of Davao should take the lead in complying with the Rain Water System Ordinance: Role modeling;

4. Develop water-sensitive urban designs and plans;

5. Rainforestation within the riparian areas (buffer sones); Engage in tree-growing rather than tree-planting only;

6. Adopt-a-riverbank partnerships with Barangay Local Government Unit

7. Explore alternative renewable energy sources;

8. Organize vigilant multi-sectoral watchdogs;

9. Spare groundwater; maximize surface water

The Summit was ended with Signing of Pledge of Commitment and Ritual where Prof. Nympha E. Branzuela, representing the academe, swore to provide scientific bases of climate change impacts particularly in downscaling local climate scenarios and simulating hydrologic modeling in the watersheds of Davao City.

CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM

                         A forum on “Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources in Davao City, Philippines was held last February 28, 2014 at the University of Mindanao, Davao City, Philippines. It was attended by various 125 participants or key stakeholders of the Talomo-Lipadas Watersheds, Davao City namely; City Planning and Development Officer, Engr. Mario Luis Jacinto, Department of Environment and Natural Resources representatives, Department of Public Works and Highways, academe institutions like Immaculate Concepcion University, Philippine Women’s University, University of the Philippines-Mindanao, Science teachers of main and branches of the University of Mindanao, students of natural sciences programs, among others.

               The speakers were Dr. Juan M. Pulhin, professor, dean, and scientist III from the University of the Philippines, Los Banos and Nympha E Branzuela who presented the initial result of her research study Climate Change and its Impact to Davao City Watershed. Dr. Pulhin talked on the basics of climate change and its various impact and responses to economics, health, water, sustainability, and security as viewed from global, regional, national and down to the local level. The forum was highlighted with the relevant questions from the audience.

Nympha E. Branzuela presented a topic on Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources

Dr. Juan M. Pulhin presented a topic on Climate Change: Science, Impacts, and Responses

Part of the forum was the question and answer portion where audience from government, non-government.  Professors from various Universities in Davao Region, students, among others were given a chance to ask questions.  Roughly, there were 6 questions being asked. Media people also approached the speakers and ask a copy and ask for highlights in the forum that Climate change impacts would likely influences Davao City especially in the water sector.

The afternoon session was followed by a focus group discussion primarily from the group of concessionaires  (residential and commercial connectors), group watershed managers namely Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office and Department of Public Works and Highways. Surprisingly, inputs from concessionaires in terms of adaptation strategies in the potential water shortage were all brilliant.

The forum culminated with get-together in the evening with my officemates of the department (Department of Forestry and Environmental Studies (DFES), College of Arts and Sciences Education, CASE) with my Adviser, Dr. Juan M. Pulhin and Project Coordiantor of University of Nairobi-IDRC Research Grant Project and Anuradha Khoda.

Open Forum

FGD was grouped according to key stakeholders  namely;  domestic water users (residential, commercial, government offices, watershed managers, and policy makers.

Celebration of the success of Climate Change   Forum

Prepared by:

Nympha Ellarina-Branzuela

UPLB, Los Banos, Philippines

20 dead, 13 missing in Mindanao floods

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

DAVAO (Updated, 12:23 p.m.) -- Two days of heavy rains set off floods and landslides in the southeastern Philippines, leaving at least 20 people dead, 13 missing and thousands displaced, officials said Monday.

Antonio Cloma, regional head of Office of Civil Defense Davao Region, said the fatalities are coming from Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, the same provinces hit Typhoon Pablo in 2012.

Other dead and missing were also recorded in Agusan del Sur.

A landslide Monday damaged five houses in Cagdianao municipality in Dinagat Island, off the northeastern coast of the main southern island of Mindanao, killing six residents including two boys aged two and 14, said police officer Elbert Ompoc.

Melito Gortina of Agusan del Sur died due to drowning, and Jenelyn Gonzalez of Compostela Valley died due to landslide.

Other fatalities from Davao Oriental were identified as Ramil Legaspi, Nino Madindin, Alfredo Moses, Roy Baron, Misael Cabales and Boy Arenas.

Four others who died due to drowning and flooding are still unidentified.

LANAO DEL NORTE. Residents living in the interior part of the coastal village of Lapinig in Kapatagan town in Lanao del Norte flee from their homes dawn on January 13 as flash flood waters keep on rising brought about by sustained rainfall for the past three days. (Richel V. Umel)

The flooding, triggered by rains from a low pressure area (LPA), has affected 132,000 people from 10 provinces.

Cloma said at least 88 barangays in 16 municipalities and two cities were among those affected. A total of 25,634 are now temporarily housed in 79 evacuation centers in the region.

“Handa naman na ang mga tao sa area na iyon so we are expecting na hindi ganoon kataas ang number of casualties,” Major Reynaldo Balido, spokesperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) told Sun.Star on Monday.

“May kahirapan ang pagdadala ng relief dahil maraming daan pa din ang hindi nadadaanan dahil sa labis nab aha, may mga tulay din na nasira at hindi madaanan hanggang ngayon,” he added.

The NDRRMC, in its 6 a.m. Tuesday update, recorded that 34 roads and 17 bridges remains not passable and were damaged by heavy flooding and landslides.

In Davao, Saug River, Libuganon River and irrigation dam in Aragon overflowed.

Heavy traffic also hit the Davao-Tagum highway on Monday following the overflow of water from Bincungan river.

Davao Oriental towns facing the Pacific Ocean are also isolated as floodwaters damaged bridges while the LPA affecting the region continues to make access by air and sea difficult.

The damaged bridges are Lumao Bridge in Cateel, Manurigao and San Isidro Bridges of Caraga town, Baugo Bridge in Baganga, and another bridge in Manay.

The towns from Manay up to the last town of Boston are unreachable from the capital City of Mati, while each town is isolated from each other.

LANAO DEL NORTE. Heavy equipment and personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways conduct clearing operations along the national highway in barangay Lapinig, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte after the main road was temporarily closed due to landslide. (Richel V. Umel)

Information from the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental showed that a navy boat left Sunday night with relief goods using the route used after Typhoon Pablo.

Other routes being considered are those via Surigao del Sur and Compostela Valley, but the Surigao route is likewise flooded while landslides threaten the Compostela Valley route.

In Davao del Norte, four towns have already declared states of calamity because of flooding.

A total of 533 families were evacuated by the Tagum City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office as floodwaters submerged their homes.

The City Council of Tagum in its session on Monday approved the resolution declaring the city under a state of calamity, which allows the release of calamity funds that will be used to cover aid, relief, and rehabilitation services to communities affected by the disaster.

Also declared under states of calamity by their respective legislative councils were the towns of Carmen, New Corella, and Kapalong.

Continuous rain since the weekend caused flooding in some barangays, including Cuambogan, Canococotan, San Miguel, Pagsabangan, Apokon, and Mankilam.

City Information Officer Cromwell Bonghanoy said relief packs consisting of three kilos of rice, four canned goods and four packs of instant noodles were given to the affected families.

Weather forecaster Gener Quitlong, meanwhile, said rains may persist until Tuesday or Wednesday over central provinces. (Sun.Star Davao/Louie Lapat/PNA/Third Anne Peralta/with reports from AP/Sunnex)