The City Government of Legazpi, in partnership with the DOST PAGASA, launched today, September 13, the Project Kickoff and Stakeholder Engagement Workshop for the Green-Climate Fund Multi-Hazard Impact-Based Forecasting and Early Warning System (MH-IBF-EWS).
Legazpi City is one of the four cities in the Philippines chosen to pilot this project, which builds on best practices in multi-hazard early warning systems and links with forecast-based action to maximize impacts on the ground.
The other three pilot areas are Tuguegarao in Cagayan, Palo in Leyte and New Bataan in Davao de Oro.
For Legazpi City, it aims to increase capacities to develop long-term climate risk reduction and adaptation measures against the hazards of flood and severe winds.
Engr. Ladee Azur, Legazpi City Disaster Risk Reduction & Management – DRRM Office (DRRMO) chief, said that one of the highlights of this five-year project is the shift from threshold-based to impact-based forecasting and warning. This will be done through provision of detailed and localized information of how hazards may impact warning recipients and what early actions to take.
“Instead of simply saying what the weather will be, it will be shifted to what will be the impact of the weather to the affected areas,” Azur said.
Dr. Marqueza Reyes of the National Program Management Office said Legaz City was chosen due to the LGU’s willingness to further enhance their advanced capacity in DRRM particularly on early warning system.
This project is led by the DOST PAGASA in collaboration with the pilot LGUs, DILG, OCD, DENR and World Food Program.
(Source: PIA Albay)