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NEWS
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Second Quarter 2001 Philippine Final Report Sectoral reports on the impacts of extreme climate events in the agriculture, water resources, public health, environment and disaster management sectors in the Philippines will be consolidated into a final report, which will include recommendations for climate information application for disaster reduction.
National
Consultation Workshop on Extreme Climate Events and their Impacts on Society
and the Environment in the Philippines The National Consultation Workshop held from 18-19 April 2001 was a very high profile event with the participation of three Cabinet Secretaries (Departments of Environment, Social Welfare and Agriculture) of the new Government of the Republic of the Philippines. The meeting was opened with a formal opening ceremony that included opening addresses by the eminent secretaries and the ADPC Executive Director. The workshop was structured around the thematic areas of focus of the ECE Program (climatology, agriculture, water resources, public health, environment and disaster management) and included formal presentations as well as working group sessions. The workshop evaluated the performance of the program as well as charted directions for future action. It also identified tangible opportunities for future work, which will provide guidance for Phase II of the ECE Program. The participants were very appreciative of ADPC's role in this whole process and expressed the desire for continued collaboration.
First Quarter 2001 The various sectoral agencies involved in ECE documentation have done a commendable job in documenting the impact of ECE on various sectors based on the guidelines for documentation given by ADPC. PAGASA constituted small research teams to undertake documentation of all aspects of the climate sector covering data for the period from 1950 to 1980. Results of the climatological studies indicate that during El Nino, drier than normal weather condition is experienced and could last to one or more seasons causing dry spells or drought events in many parts of the country. Weak monsoon activity, early termination of the rainy season and suppressed tropical cyclone activity near the country are also experienced during this extreme event. On the other hand, La Nina manifestations in the local climate are near to above normal rainfall condition in the country, favorable tropical cyclone activity, and strong monsoon activity, which could cause floods and strong winds over large portions of the country. These abnormalities in local climate as manifested by ENSO conditions have both negative and positive impacts on various sectors of society and the environment. In the agriculture sector, documentation covered annual national agricultural production data for the period 1967 to 1988. The impact of ECEs on the water resources sector was studied using data from five major reservoirs in Luzon (Angat, Pantabangan, Magat, Binga, and Ambuklao) and Lake Lanao in Mindanao, with focus on irrigation and hydro-electric power generation. The disaster management study drew conclusions from annual national agricultural data. Analysis showed a trend towards a time °lag of ENSO impacts in the Philippines. Documentation in the environment sector covered the linkage between ENSO and natural hazards such as landslides and forest fires. For the health sector, this is the first time in the Philippines that a systematic documentation effort has been made to associate climate variability indicators with public health. Correlation analysis done on dengue and malaria show that these two diseases are most sensitive to climate as shown by the effects of temperature, relative humidity and rainfall on the incidence of these diseases. Results of these studies will be presented in the National Consultation Workshop in April.
Fourth Quarter 2000 Data Analysis Though preliminary findings of the study were presented in the ECE Program Peer-review Meeting (5-6 October 2000, Bangkok), more work is yet to be done on data analysis. A technical advice cum monitoring visit by ADPC is scheduled in the third week of January 2001. The National Consultation Workshop, where findings of the quick assessment study will be presented, is tentatively scheduled for the first week of February 2001.
Third Quarter 2000 Data Collection and Analysis A technical advise visit was undertaken in July 2000 to monitor the progress of data collection and provide guidance to the technical working groups on the methodology for data analysis. Preliminary results of the study will be presented in the ECE Program Peer-review Meeting on 5-6 October 2000.
Second Quarter 2000 Documentation On 17 April 2000, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Memorandum Order No. 06 s. 2000, signed by the Secretary of National Defense and NDCC Chairman, Orlando S. Mercado, effected the constitution of the Steering Committee and the Technical Working Groups (TWG) to implement the ECE Program in the Philippines. These TWGs were tasked to document, analyze and assess data related to extreme climate event incidences and their impacts in the climate forecast and early warning, environment, health, water resources, food and agriculture, and disaster management sectors; and to assess related national and local programs to mitigate extreme climate event impacts/ effects. The Memorandum Order required the Steering Committee to submit periodic accomplishment reports and a final report by 15 September 2000. At the end of May 2000, the TWG had completed an inventory of available data and information from cooperating government agencies. The ECE Program technical advisor, Mr. A. R. Subbiah, is scheduled to make a technical advice cum monitoring trip in the second week of July to review the work done. Mr. Subbiah will also discuss the structure and timing of a National Consultation Seminar at which the findings of this effort will be presented.
First Quarter 2000 Start-up Workshop
on the Documentation and Analysis of the Impacts of and Responses to Extreme
Climate Events in the Philippines The scoping workshop on the documentation and analysis of the impacts of and responses to extreme climate events in the Philippines was held last 31 January 2000 at the National Defense College of the Philippines, Quezon City, Philippines. Organized jointly by the National Disaster Coordinating Council/ Office of Civil Defense (NDCC/OCD), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), and ADPC, the workshop brought together more than 50 participants from various departments and agencies of the Philippines. Among the agencies represented were the Department of Agriculture, the National Water Resources Board, the Department of Health, the National Economic Development Authority, NDCC/OCD, and PAGASA, along with several NGOs. The quality of outputs at the end of the working group discussions was very high. Enthusiasm for the proposed program was also clearly evident among the workshop participants. Outputs of the workshop are presented in the report consolidated by PAGASA. This report presents the implementation plans and scope of work of each sector under the ECE Program. For more information about the workshop, please click here.
Fourth Quarter 1999 The ECE Program in the Philippines has been given a renewed thrust under the leadership of the National Disaster Coordinating Council. In November 1999, NDCC expressed its support for the ECE Program to coordinate activities on project implementation. The start-up workshop was scheduled for January 2000.
Third Quarter 1999 Active involvement of the partner institution in the ECE Program is essential for its successful implementation. Follow-up was made with the National Disaster Coordinating Council to be ADPCØs partner institution in the implementation of the ECE Program in the Philippines.
Second Quarter 1999 Because of institutional problems, the start-up workshop that was tentatively set for the last week of March 1999 did not materialize. The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) was contacted to lend support to the program.
First Quarter 1999 Because of institutional problems, the start-up workshop that was tentatively set for the last week of March 1999 did not materialize. The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) was contacted to lend support to the program.
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