Environmental management activities are bound to get nicer in northern Luzon as two projects under the Niche Centers in the Regions for Research and Development (Nicer) program had been approved recently.
The Coastal Engineering Research (CoastER) Center will be established in Region 1, while the Smart Water Infrastructure and Management (SWIM) Research and Development Center will be setup in Region 2.
The P79.93-million CoastER is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the Office of the Undersecretary for Research and Development (OUSECRD).
The Mariano Marcos State University, along with Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University and the University of the Philippines Diliman will co-implement the project in partnership with Urdaneta City University and the University of Northern Philippines.
With the aim of mitigating disasters based on strategies addressing coastal erosion and climate change, the CoastER Center would aid in building a resilient seaside community and reducing agricultural and fishery losses by 20 percent, or equivalent to P1 billion in savings.
Meanwhile, the P77.27-million SWIM Center will be co-implemented by Isabela State University, Cagayan State University and Quirino State University.
Partners will include the Office of Civil Defense, the National Water Resources Board, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Agriculture, the National Irrigation Administration, and various local government units.
The SWIM Center aims to develop technologies in water management and promote disaster-resilient infrastructures. Its innovations are expected to improve safe water supply, quality, access, utilization, and reuse—as well as reduce agricultural and infrastructural damages through better forecasting of droughts and extreme rainfall.
Interested parties may contact Dr. Nathaniel R. Alibuyog through email at natzalibuyog@gmail.com for more on the CoastER Center, and Dr. Orlando F. Balderama at orly_isu@yahoo.com for the SWIM Center.
Allyster A. Endozo/S&T Media Services
