Swim staff assisted the 3rd PSABE Convention
The Isabela State University, through the Vice President for Research and Development, Extension and Training project on Integrated Flood and Water Resources Management (IFWaRM), spearheaded the conduct of the “3rd Cagayan Valley Regional Chapter PSABE Convention cum Stakeholders Forum on the Advances in Flood, Sediment, and Water Resources Management” onFebruary 2, 2022 at the Hotel Sophia, Cauayan City, Isabela. This significant event was simultaneously broadcasted live via Zoom platform for the bayaws who joined virtually due to pandemic restrictions.
Dr. Ricmar P. Aquino, the Isabela State University President, graced the region-wide convention with his welcoming remarks, followed by the rationale of the convention cum forum explained by Dr. Jeoffrey Lloyd R. Bareng, the University Campus Director for R&D.
In general sense, the numerous resource speakers for the event shared the different advances and new interventions on integrated flood, sediment, and water resources management. Dr. Guillermo Q. Tabios III, a Professor Emeritus of Institute of Civil Engineering and UPD & NRCP RD Lead, served as a keynote speaker on the science of flood and sediment management. Specifically, he shared his advocacies regarding holistic flood management along with a comparison between flood management in the context of sustainability science and traditional science, and ended his speech with a challenge on high resolution flood modeling using Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) data.
As the activity phases proceeded, numerous government agencies such as Regional Agricultural Engineering Division, Department of Public Works and Highway-Planning and Design Division, and National Water Resources Board presented their agenda and ongoing projects related to the interest of the convention.
In the afternoon session, the resource speakers expounded the S&T Tools and R&D Advances on Flood and Water Resource Management. Specifically, Engr. Czarimah L. Singson elucidated the topic “Rapid Assessment Techniques on Impacts of Floods Due to Extreme Rainfall: Case of Typhoon Ulysses in the Cagayan River Basin”. On the other hand, Engr. Christine B. Mata discussed “Science Tools on Analysis of Impacts of Climate Change on Watershed Hydrology and Water Security in River Basin using Simulation Model”. Also, Engr. Arlen S. Alejandro from NIA-DRD presented her study which illustrates the topic “Development and Application of a Rainfall Runoff-Inundation Model in Cagayan River Basin”.
To welcome the intermingling of ideas between the attendees and the resource speakers, a two-phase forum was facilitated Dr. Orlando F. Balderama, ISU-Vice President for Research and Development, Extension and Training, and Dr. Jeoffrey Lloyd R. Bareng. As this event serves as channel for the fellowship of PSABE officials and members, a business meeting, directed by Engineer Sherwin Maruquin, was subsequently held to discuss the issues and concerns of the organization, particularly the election of new officers. To this end, the attendees expressed their good impressions on this momentous event by accentuating the enrichment of their level of awareness about the issues and science of sediments and flood management, which afforded them with a new vision towards the Cagayan River Basin. Finally, Dr. Lanie A. Alejo, the Vice President of PSABE Region II, clinched the momentous event with her appreciation of support from the attendees and conveyance of some words of wisdom.