The University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UP RI) – Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) Center participated in the 2nd International Forum on Sustainable Science (IFSS) held last July 10-12 at Caraga State University in Butuan City. The IFSS is a symposium focused on understanding and mitigating sustainability challenges in various disciplines through co-creating knowledge and exchanging of ideas addressing sustainability. The UPRI-NOAH researchers presented three studies in the parallel presentations through Claire Mandar of Planning Component, and in the poster presentations through Gifford Agudo of Flood Modelling Component and Julian Grageda of Hazard Assessment Team.
Under the theme “Sustainability and Climate Change,” Ms. Mandar presented “Risk-Informed Development: Forging Pathways to a Resilient and Sustainable City of Balanga.” The presentation demonstrates the City of Balanga’s comprehensive plans and planning strategies against the impacts of natural hazards and climate change. For a city located in the world’s most disaster-prone country, it is important to factor the escalating threats brought upon by climate change. With the utilization of risk-based frameworks, multi-scenario high-resolution hazard maps, geographic systems, and other elements, such plans can aid in development towards a more climate resilient city.
For the poster presentations, Mr. Agudo presented “Rates and Patterns of Active Channel Migration of Cagayan River, Philippines using Landsat-derived Band Indices.” It is a documentation and analysis of the channel migration of the Cagayan River, the longest river in the Philippines. River floodplains have been sites of human settlements throughout history. Although never considered a hazard, the lateral migration of rivers can pose a threat against established infrastructures and livelihoods adjacent to them. Understanding the rates and patterns of active channel migration can inform crucial development and management strategies for localities founded on floodplains.
Also under the poster presentations, Ms. Grageda presented “Urban Ground Deformation of the Greater Manila Area from 2014 to 2020 Using InSAR Time Series Analysis.” It is a study that examined and quantified the ground deformation of five metropolitan areas in the Philippines using satellite radar images. The poster focused on the Greater Manila Area, showing the velocities of subsiding areas as well as correlations with land use. The West Marikina Valley Fault also displayed an impression in the mapped data, exhibiting its current status as an active fault line. These observations are important as subsidence lowers ground elevation and aggravates the effects of flooding, sea level rise, and storm surge. Hence, mitigation and development strategies for such hazards can be guided accordingly by the detection and analysis of ground deformation.
Through this conference, the UPRI NOAH researchers actively engaged in knowledge sharing, networking and scaling up scientific research. This also promotes the UPRI’s goal to provide innovative information towards the nation’s effort to climate change mitigation and adaptation.