To address the flood risk in Pangasinan, Governor Ramon V. Guico III is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Center for Disaster Preparedness Foundation, Incorporated (CDPFI) for the implementation of the ‘Scaling Across Integrated Risk Management at National and Local Levels (SAIL) Project.”
This developed after the provincial board led by Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino approved in its regular session on July 24 a resolution binding the partnership of the provincial government and the CDPFI.
As stated in the approved resolution, the CDPFI has chosen the province as the strategic starting point to introduce the ridge-to-reef approach in disaster risk reduction and management.
“Using the ridge-to-reef approach and landscape-wide/river basin modelling, the project will put focus on comprehensive and integrated risk governance through conservation, sustainable management, and restoration of natural ecosystems to increase the resilience of the Agno River Basin communities against the impacts of climate change and natural hazards common and affecting the localities,” the resolution said.
The municipalities of Alcala, Bautista, Bugallon, Lingayen, Mangatarem, Rosales, Urbiztondo, and San Carlos City are the main partners of the provincial government and the CDPFI in the implementation of the SAIL project.
“It is more important than ever for the province to invest in disaster risk reduction management like the SAIL project in order to have a safe, resilient and developed communities,” the resolution which was authored by Board Member Vici Ventanilla stated.
The Agno River which has one of the largest river basins in the country, runs across a catchment area of 5,952 square kilometers within the province. The lower basin runs through several flood prone municipalities including San Manuel, San Nicolas, Tayug, Asingan, Sta. Maria, Rosales, Villasis, Sto Tomas, Alcala, Bautista, Bayambang, Mangatarem, Urbiztondo, part of San Carlos City, Aguilar, Bugallon, Lingayen , and Labrador.
Schedule of activities for the implementation of the project is from October 2022 to September 2025.
(Ruby R. Bernardino/Pangasinan PIO)
