NIA holds climate change forum for farmers

By ANALIZA S. MACATANGAY

NAGA CITY -- The geographical location of several municipalities of Camarines Sur along the Bicol River Basin has brought them under the threat of extreme flooding and has since affected farmers in these areas.

This has prompted the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) regional office here to hold a Forum on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction dubbed “Pag-andam” over the weekend to address the frequent occurrence of weather phenomena such as drought, flashfloods and typhoons which the agriculture sector always suffered the brunt of coping up with the losses.

"Pag-andam" is a Bicol term for "preparation" which aptly describes the goal of the forum to urged farmers, along with concerned authorities and agencies, and other stakeholders to do at all times.

NIA public information offi cer Ed Yu said areas identifi ed prone to fl ooding include the towns of Sipocot, Buhi, Bato, Ombao, Camaligan and Balongay, all in Camarines Sur. The towns of Nabua, Bula, Pili, Bombon, Calabanga, Canaman, Gainza, Magarao, Milaor, Minalabac, Pamplona, Libmanan, San Fernando, Cabusao an Naga city are also considered flood prone areas.

Yu stated that the farmers need to know the courses and occurrences of these phenomenon so that they can anticipate and prepare back up plans for their crops.

“When there is an overflow of water above the bank of normal confines of a river, lake and other bodies of water flooding occur. It also happen when there is an accumulation of rainwater or other source in relatively low area aggravated clogged or poor drainage system and when there is an overflow of the natural borders along the coastal areas. During typhoons, we also expect these occurrences,” Yu said in an interview.

These occurrences, Yu added, are the effects of climate change which farmers have to face. He added that there are various government agencies aside from NIA that also address the needs of this sector in terms of giving them proper information and education. It includes the Department of Agriculture (DA) through their program related to climate change and risk mitigation. They also give information to farmers what plants are resilient to typhoons.

The Office of the Civil Defense also gave lecture on climate change and actual scenarios, including the disaster risk reduction measures for farmers. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG ASA) through Dr. Alfredo Consulta, Chief Meteorological Officer, also gave lecture on the climate factors affecting agriculture and climate monitoring and prediction.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) also have flood forecasting systems that would aid the farmers in their preparation to mitigate the impact of flooding. It include water level station, rain station, warning station, supervisory water level equipment, supervisory rainfall equipment, flood forecasting and warning center, relay station, filed center and control stations.

These early warning systems, funded under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) served as the farmers saving grace in developing risk reduction mechanisms leading to a better equipped and disaster-prepared community.