OPINION METROPOST OCTOBER 13 - OCTOBER 19, 2019 7 SU TO....FROM P. 3


“The project demonstrates the value of an inter- disciplinary approach to tackling urgent problems,” said sociologist Dr. Enrique Oracion, SU director of Research, and one of the project team leaders. Among the tools developed by Dr. Oracion’s team were social survey questionnaires to understand the perceptions and “sense of place” of residents and businesses. The concept of sense of place provides insight into why people remain in a place despite its perceived high risk and can guide policymakers on climate adaptive resettlement. Another team headed by biologist Dr. Robert Guino-o helped train communities on sampling of Ocoy River water.


During the dry season, his group found that the dumping of human and animal waste into the river resulted in high levels of coliform bacteria that could spread during floods. His team facilitated the training of community leaders in First Aid/Basic Life Support and recommended a program of training for at-risk communities to increase the chances of survival of people injured by floods. Dr. Emmanuel’s team developed models of the Ocoy River Basin using open-source software. The models were used to determine areas of high flood risk. They reviewed the latest engineering design


recommendations for flood control structures, and suggested a reach-by-reach assessment of the river to determine the most appropriate hard control measures. They also recommended non-structural measures such as increased forest protection, reforestation, bioengineering approaches (such as the planting of bamboo and vetiver grass along river banks), and the possible use of flood retention basins upstream. The task of compiling and visualizing the data fell on the team of Dr. Dave Marcial, dean of Computer Studies. His group developed the web portal and database, and provided training to the LGUs on the use of free software to access visualized data and flood hazard maps. “We are introducing a new application called Siren which was developed by our students. It has an information board, early warning, and incident reporting system,” announced Dr. Marcia.


This new web and mobile app could be part of an enhanced early warning system for the Province. The project worked closely with the Disaster Risk- Reduction and -Management officers and held numerous consultations with residents, businesses, barangay officials, and other stakeholders to come up with a set of recommendations. The draft recommendations were presented and discussed earlier with city and municipal officials, Sanggunian members, as well as provincial officials.


Silliman President Dr. Betty Cernol-McCann will formally present the written recommendations to the Mayors of Dumaguete, Sibulan, and Valencia who have been invited to the event. “The University is committed to supporting the efforts of Dumaguete, Sibulan, and Valencia in disaster risk-reduction and climate change adaptation,” said Dr. McCann.


“We hope they will adopt the recommendations, and


benefit from the capacity-building activities provided by the project team, as we work together to make our communities more resilient to climate change.” (SU/OIP)


The family of Saning and Deling Villegas (center), who operate a painitan at the Valencia public market, have been regular hosts every town fiesta to their patron bikers and runners, a tradition that started in 2004. (Photo by Melissa Pal)


PEOPLE’S....FROM P. 5


(IPV) and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV).


Here in the Philippines, OPV is administered in the health care facilities. The DOH, in cooperation with the local government units, as well as other known agencies in the Philippines, and with the support of WHO and the UN Children’s Fund, is preparing quick action to fight the polio outbreak.


This includes synchronized oral polio vaccinations to


CITY....FROM P. 2


Department of Environment and Natural Resources. In a meeting Tuesday


night, the city and barangay officials reiterate their support to the efforts of Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo to close the dumpsite, finish the construction of the Central Materials Recovery Facility and establish a sanitary landfill.


Mayor Remollo said that all garbage brought to the central MRF, which is now 35% complete, will be further segregated: biodegradable can be converted into organic fertilizer; recyclables will be sold or re-used; plastic wastes will be turned into chairs for public schools and the residuals (dili mapuslan) will be buried at the sanitary landfill. At the same time the


assembled officials also express their sympathy to the employees of the Environment and Natural Resources who were recently arrested without warrant by the agents from NBI Manila. Vice-Mayor Alan Gel


Cordova, City Councilors Lilani Ramon, Michael Bandal, Joe Kenneth Arbas and Agustin Miguel Perdices lamented the use of force and even long firearms by the NBI team against the defenseless employees.


The Punong Barangays also got an update of the ongoing construction of the Central MRF and eventually the sanitary landfill in the newly purchased 8-hectare lot from the department heads present.


protect every child under the age of five years in areas at risk beginning this month. Aside from the ongoing


action, they also recommend maintaining strict hygiene, including washing hands regular ly, using toi lets properly, drinking safe water, and eating nutritious food.


Romula P. Gravador Tubigon Elementary School Sibulan 1 District


jrioagravador@gmail.com KABANKALAN....FROM P. 3


of geothermal power leader, Energy Development Corp. “I live in a far-flung barangay in the city, about 10 kilometers away, and so I decided to stay with Paul for more than two months and a half so we can prepare for the finals, so we can study together and bond together as a team,” Samillano said in an interview over the weekend. Living at Paul’s home had also helped “strengthen their chemistry as a team,” he said. All that hard work paid off for the duo which bagged the championship title of the BOTB, besting nine other teams from across Negros during the grand finals held recently at the Foundation University in Dumaguete. “We are happy to have won, because this is the 10th year anniversary of Southland College, and we were aiming for the championship as a gift to our school,” Samillano said. This is the 2nd time for SCK to win in the BOTB grand finals, the first one in 2017.


Now in its fourth year, the BOTB science-based competition was created to promote clean and renewable energy, as well as to serve as a “wake-up call for the youth who need to learn and start taking care of our planet today in order for them to have a greener Negros and a sustainable future,” said Norreen Bautista, head of EDC’s corporate social responsibility teams on Negros Island and Mt. Apo.


climate crisis and to encourage the young people that they have a big and important role to play to prepare for a sustainable and brighter future,” she said. “And it is through the regional science contest that we continue spreading awareness on the use of renewable energy as one of the solutions to fighting climate change,” she added. During the grand finals, the top 10 finalists had to go


through each of the easy, medium, and difficult rounds with a wild card question asked during some portions of the contest. Those who get the correct answer to each wild card question get double points depending on the category. Having moved up to the difficult round with four other


teams, the SCK pair aced the final clincher when Samillano wowed the audience during the question & answer portion, a new feature introduced in this year’s BOTB. During the Q&A, a judge picked a particular team and asked a question that either of the two team members would have to answer in front of the audience, given only a few minutes to discuss it with their coach. For the SCK question, they were asked to choose which


CARD OF THANKS


The greatest comfort during our sorrow were the expressions of sympathy conveyed to us in many ways.


We deeply appreciate your thoughtfulness


and we thank you most sincerely. “It’s now about being attuned to the reality of the global


of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN would be best for EDC to use in its advocacy for renewable energy. They chose No. 17, or Partnerships for the Goals. Samillano answered spontaneously that there is a need to be


united, to communicate effectively and enjoin the community and the public in the endeavor to promote renewable energy, also highlighting that forging partnerships would mean better results to achieve goals such as sustainability for the future. The SCK received medals, certificates, and P30,000 cash. Samillano said he was hoping to buy a cellphone with his prize and to use part of it to go to Bacolod City for the University of the Philippines College Admission Test. To his surprise and delight, movie and TV personality, and environmentalist Robi Domingo, who graced the BOTB grand finals, pledged to pay for his fare, which was announced during a press conference that followed the contest. Peralta, meanwhile, said he had yet to decide on what to do with his cash prize. “I feel complete right now and I am so happy that Paul


and I teamed up for this,” an enthusiastic Samillano said of his teammate while thanking their teachers and coach for guiding them all throughout.


Domingo told the two that he hoped what he heard on stage “would not just stay there but I hope to see you as part of EDC, or even with the UN”. A total of 77 schools from Negros Oriental and Negros


Occidental joined this year’s BOTB. The number is four times higher than in 2016 when the competition was launched. Meanwhile, EDC’s Integrated Planning head, Jay Joel Soriano, called on the quiz bee contenders and all those present during the contest to unite for a cleaner, greener, and brighter future for Negros.


From the family of the late


Rosita Amistad - Muñoz, M.D. June 11, 1936 - Sept. 9, 2019


He cited EDC partnerships with government and private institutions in protecting the environment and combating climate change, such as the “10M in 10”, a project that aims to plant 10 million trees in 10 years in Negros. “I hope that we can all work together to plant, grow, and maintain our native trees and that we don’t take for granted nature’s blessings,” he said. “More importantly, I hope that we realize there is much more we can learn and do to help our environment. We need to act now if we want to win the battle against this climate crisis.” (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)


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