The city government, represented by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, has entered into separate memorandums of agreement with the Department of Science and Technology-Cordillera Pagasaon Sept. 21 at City Hall.
The MOAs are on the ASEAN-Australian Smart City Trust Fund (AASCTF) grant project on flood early warning, information, and mitigation system (FEWS) where the city is a recipient through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
The project has three outputs including a smart FEWS established and operational, real-time data capture system established in four river basins in the city, and flood mitigation action plan prepared.
As a project component, the city received five FEWS equipment, specifically one lot tandem station and four lots water level monitoring stations (WLMS) for installation in Brookspoint; Guisad Central; Balili, La Trinidad, Benguet; Bakakeng Sur; and Woodsgate, Camp 7.
Under the agreements, the city’s roles and responsibilities include owning, operating, and managing the FEWS once it is turned over by the Asian Development Bank; initially connect the FEWS to the management information and technology division and eventually to the Smart City command center; and collecting, managing, and owning the data collected from the installed early warning equipment.
The DOST-Cordillera is mandated to provide central direction, leadership, and coordination of scientific and technological efforts to ensure that results therefrom are geared and used in areas of maximum economic and social benefits for people in the region.
Meanwhile, Pagasa is mandated to provide adequate, up-to-date, and timely information on atmospheric, astronomical, and other weather-related phenomena using the advances achieved in the realm of science to help government and the people prepare for calamities caused by typhoons, floods, landslides, storm surges, extreme climatic events, and climate change, among others, to afford greater protection to the people.
The project is supported by the AASCTF, which is funded by the Australian government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and managed by the ADB.
Officials from the ADB, AASCTF, DOST-Cordillera, Pagasa, Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, City Mayor’s office chief of staff Felipe Puzon, and CDRRM Officer Antonette Anaban witnessed the MOA signing.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ continue to bless and keep us all safe.
