The IA Project team together with representatives from Bay, Pila, and Sta. Cruz TWGs and Dean Cuevas (left photo) and the 1^st and 2^nd District Engineering Offices of DPWH, NIA, Laguna PENRO, and Los Baños MENRO (right photo).

The DOST- PCAARRD funded project on “Impact Assessment (IA) of Floods and Droughts in Selected Agricultural Municipalities in Laguna” held its first experts consultation meeting on 15 March 2023 at the ICOPED Auditorium, CEM, UPLB.

This activity was undertaken 10 months after regular FGD and TWG meetings with the LGUs of the study areas of Bay, Pila, and Sta. Cruz. One objective of this 2-year IA project is to identify appropriate structural and non-structural interventions that the LGUs can implement to manage the impacts of floods and droughts in their respective municipalities and barangays.

A total of 55 participants attended the face-to-face meeting, including the Bay, Pila, and Sta. Cruz TWGs and the experts from the 1^st and 2^nd District Engineering Offices of DPWH, NIA, Laguna PENRO, and Los Baños MENRO.

Representatives of the three LGUs presented their identified major flood and drought problems and potential solutions. On the other hand, the invited experts gave their insights, experiences, on-going programs, and future plans to address these problems.

The IA project team would like to thank the following resource persons: Engr. Raquel Dita, Engr. Janne Garcia-Rosales, and Engr. Sean Michael Bulado from DPWH, Engr. Leilani Dela Cruz and Engr. Marlon Dela Cruz from NIA, Forester  Eriberto Saños from Laguna PENRO, and Dr. Antonio Alcantara and Ms. Lizette Cardenas from Los Baños MENRO. CEM Dean Agham Cuevas is  acknowledged for giving the welcome remarks.

This multi-disciplinary project is led by Dr. Maria Angeles Catelo (DE-CEM) together with Dr. Myra David, Dr. Agnes Rola, Cristina Alvarez, and Therese Olviga (CPAf), Dr. Patricia Sanchez, Jessa Aquino, and Catherine Gigantone (SESAM and IDSC Water), Dr. Jamie Kim Arias, Paul Edrine Mapoy, and Christine Ramacula (DE-CEM), Dr. Mona delos Reyes (CEAT), and Dr. Ma. Helen Dayo (gender consultant).                                                                                  -Paul Edrine Mapoy