P398-M permanent evacuation cum classroom projects in Albay underway

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, August 9 (PIA) -- Six multi-hazard two storey evacuation centers cum classrooms in this city and five towns in Albay will commence construction this year.

Ground breaking ceremonies led by Minister Motohiko Sato, Consul General of the Japanese Embassy in Manila and Albay Gov. Joey Salceda were held yesterday in the towns of Oas, Polangui and Libon. Another ceremony will be held today in Manito and Barangay Gogon, in this city.

Salceda said the centers would be built in areas prone to landslides (Manito), flooding (Oas, Polangui, LIbon) and lahar or mud flows (Sto Domingo, Legazpi City).

He said the six evacuation centers would beef up the existing public school sites used as temporary evacuation camps in these areas during calamities.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided a 739-million yen or P398-million grant for the construction of the multi-hazard permanent evacuation centers in six towns of the province, Salceda said.

Minister Sato with Akio Yonezawa, second secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Manila, Takahiro Sasaki, chief representative of JICA, and Hayato Nakamura, JICA project officer, arrived here Wednesday to hold a two-day ground breaking rites in six construction sites in Albay.

Salceda said the project is part of the disaster risk reduction program instituted by the Albay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

"The JICA project is a single biggest assistance given by the Japanese government in addressing the province zero-casualty goal in times of disasters such as Mayon eruption, flooding, lahar flows and landslides," Salceda said.

Under the agreement, the JICA’s six permanent evacuation centers that can accommodate 10 classrooms can be used as school classrooms in normal condition.

He said the edifices would be constructed in the towns and city central elementary schools of the Department of Education (DepEd).

There are now three existing permanent evacuation center in the towns of Daraga, Camalig, and Guinobatan, where two-storey type evacuation center edifice can accommodate some 250 families or 1,250 people, said Salceda. The project construction was funded by the Spanish government through the AECID.

Salceda added that the permanent evacuation centers will declog the existing school building used as evacuation centers in times of calamities. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)


State college presents researches in Fish for Development seminar

By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, August 9 (PIA) -- The results of eight (8) research studies conducted by the Catanduanes State Colleges (CSC) were presented in a Fish for Development seminar July 18, 2012 at CSC Little Theater.

The researches were conducted Catanduanes Sustainable Technology Infusion for Inland Fisheries Development (CSTIDP) Program.

Among these were Designing a Community-based Marine Hatchery in Catanduanes Using a Modified Protocol for Site Evaluation by Dr. Jimmy T. Masagca et.al.; From Rivers to Plates: Participatory Approach in Site Selection, Design, Fabrication and Trial of Using Cages for Enhancing Inland Aquaculture in Catanduanes by Dr. Myrna A. Santelices et.al.; Reducing Mortality in Growing Mudcrabs with Tilapia in Nylon Net pens with Bamboo Pipes for Shelter by Mr. Ricardo V. Arcilla et.al.;

Woman in the Post-Harvest Initiative of the Catanduanes State Colleges in Fortifying Tilapia, Packaging and Marketing by Delia B. Sorra, et.al.; Gender in Fisheries and Aquaculture in Rivers and Coastal Areas of Catanduanes: Analysis of Livelihoods, Capabilities and Shocks by Prof. Socorro T. Brillante et.al.; Stakeholder Management, Identification of Inputs and Engagements in Community Protected Marine Spaces in Catanduanes by Prof. Sonia R. Vargas et. al.;

Managing the River Corridors of Northeastern Catanduanes for Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Development under the Prospects of Climate Change by Prof. Estrella T. Tribiana et.al.; and Diversifying Livelihood with Integrated Rice-Fish Farming: An Option for Smallholder Rice Farmers of Catanduanes by Prof. Teresita J.Avila et. al.

An open forum after each presentation provided a venue for the researchers to generate feedback and suggestions from the participants and at the same time answer further inquiries about their studies. Moreover, a roundtable discussion focusing on an on-going study which is the "Gender in Agojo Marine Protected Area (MPA) in San Andres, Catanduanes and Kalapadan Marine Sanctuary in Baras, Catanduanes" capped the seminar.

These studies constitute the research proposal prepared by CSC President Dr. Minerva I. Morales titled Catanduanes Sustainable Technology Infusion for Inland Fisheries Development Program and was consequently funded by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) through the initiative of Congressman Cesar V. Sarmiento.

Dr. Minerva I. Morales, CSC President and overall program leader of CSTIDP program, together with Dr. Aurora E. Araojo, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and co-program leader of CSTIDP program, graced the seminar while Dr. Jimmy T. Masagca, also the co-program leader of the research program, facilitated the conduct of research presentations and provided inputs for the improvement of the studies. (MAL/EAB/GSR-CSC/PIA)