A six-year partnership has been forged by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) which seeks capacitate the NIA in delivering science-based services toward effective water management of irrigation in the country.
DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit attended the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Friday, May 27 along with NIA Administrator General Ricardo Visaya (Ret), and Deputy Administrator Engr. Czar M. Sulaik at the NIA head office in Quezon City.
“With the rapid advancement of science and technology (S&T), coupled with the growing challenges brought about by climate change, there is a need to continually develop new strategies in enhancing the local governments’ disaster resiliency as well as its adaptability to infrastructure development and investment,” Paringit said.
“We, at the Council, are glad to have entered this collaboration with NIA as we continue advocating for a stronger tie with our public and private, as well as academic partners, for the eventual adoption of R&D,” he added.
DOST-PCIEERD said in a statement that both parties have agreed to formally collaborate through the Water Resource Management and Climate Resilient Infrastructure Initiative Program (WRMCRII) to address challenges in the sector by planning, programming, crafting policies regarding harmonized water resource management, disaster resilience, climate change adaptation, and mitigation program based on research and development (R&D) agenda and S&T intervention plan.
The potential S&T collaboration areas are, but not limited to allocation of flood control in all dams; severe sedimentation-desilting; real-time monitoring during floods; dam break scenario-affected communities; inter-agency collaboration-watershed rehabilitation; enhanced forecasting during floods; hydrological and river flow modelling; groundwater modelling and monitoring for irrigation well areas; shallow tube wells for aquifer recharge; and smart farming innovative water management systems.
DOST-PCIEERD and NIA will also create an oversight committee equally representing both parties to monitor project accomplishments and the recommended succeeding steps during the implementation of the program.