The Department of Science and Technology-National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP) has funded a two-year program seeking to ensure safe and secure water supply for the indigenous communities in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
The program is under the NRCP’s National Integrated Basic Research Agenda’s (NIBRA) priority area — Water Security or TUBIG
Program (Tubig ay Buhayin at Ingatan), and is implemented in partnership with the DOST-CAR.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said the project is entitled “Ensuring Water Security and Climate-Resilience for Mountain Indigenous
Communities of the Cordillera through Technology-enhanced Decision Support Tools.”
“This program intends to address water woes, water scarcity during dry season, and low water quality during rainy season, thus bring about sufficient, clean and safe domestic water supply in mountain communities,” he said.
Under the program which started on Jan. 1, 2021 are two projects —Safe and Secure Water Supply for Mountain Indigenous People, led by Engr.
Epiphania B. Magwilang of Mountain Province State Polytechnic College; and DANUM or Decision Support and Nurturing Management of Watersheds, led by Nathaniel Vincent A. Lubrica of University of the Cordilleras (UC).
“The program will provide local government units (LGUs) and key stakeholders the necessary data and information to support decisions and pronouncements relating to water resources development for water supply that are more resilient to climate change and climate variability,” de la Peña said.
“Likewise, a technology-enhanced information and decision support system for the conservation of the rivers and watersheds of the Cordilleras will be made available,” he added.
The completion of the program is being eyed in December 2022.