DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña (Screenshot from DOST's Facebook page on Friday, June 4, 2021)
MANILA – A water infrastructure and research center will soon rise in Region 2, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said.
In a taped report aired on Friday, he announced that the Smart Water Infrastructure and Management R&D Center (SWIM) will be established as among the niche centers for research and development (R&D) of the DOST.
"It aims to introduce innovative water management approaches through institutionalizing a university-based water research center to undertake R&D education, capacity building programs in the water resources sector and river basins, and provide technical extension services," he said.
De la Pena told the Philippine News Agency that the DOST will provide PHP77.2 million for this project.
Some PHP69 million, on the other hand, will come from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), congressmen, local government units (LGUs), and state universities in Region 2, he added.
The DOST targets to start the project by the third quarter of 2021. SWIM will be located at the Isabela State University.
"(This project) aims to develop (a) science-based comprehensive water resource assessment for (the) design of projects. (It also targets to) develop climate-resilient flood mitigation and remediation measures," he told the PNA.
The official added that SWIM aims to manage urban water infrastructure, develop low-cost water control infrastructure for effective irrigation water management, and harness the potential of the Cagayan River for irrigation.
The R&D center will help address problems on water resources management, including finding solutions for water hazards like flood drought, and sedimentation, he added.
To address these water hazards, de la Peña said the following R&D projects will be implemented: Smart Water Resources Planning and Development of Water Resources Projects and Interventions; Integrated Assessment and Analysis of Hydraulic Assets for Sustainable and Resilient Flood Control Infrastructures; GIS (geographic information system)-based Decision Support Tool in Managing, Monitoring and Applying Intervention of Water Infrastructure for Smart Cities: Case for Cauayan City; and Smart Water Control Infrastructures for Effective Irrigation Management.
The SWIM, he said, would benefit the LGUs, NIA, graduate students, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the National Water Resources Board. (PNA)
In a taped report aired on Friday, he announced that the Smart Water Infrastructure and Management R&D Center (SWIM) will be established as among the niche centers for research and development (R&D) of the DOST.
"It aims to introduce innovative water management approaches through institutionalizing a university-based water research center to undertake R&D education, capacity building programs in the water resources sector and river basins, and provide technical extension services," he said.
De la Pena told the Philippine News Agency that the DOST will provide PHP77.2 million for this project.
Some PHP69 million, on the other hand, will come from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), congressmen, local government units (LGUs), and state universities in Region 2, he added.
The DOST targets to start the project by the third quarter of 2021. SWIM will be located at the Isabela State University.
"(This project) aims to develop (a) science-based comprehensive water resource assessment for (the) design of projects. (It also targets to) develop climate-resilient flood mitigation and remediation measures," he told the PNA.
The official added that SWIM aims to manage urban water infrastructure, develop low-cost water control infrastructure for effective irrigation water management, and harness the potential of the Cagayan River for irrigation.
The R&D center will help address problems on water resources management, including finding solutions for water hazards like flood drought, and sedimentation, he added.
To address these water hazards, de la Peña said the following R&D projects will be implemented: Smart Water Resources Planning and Development of Water Resources Projects and Interventions; Integrated Assessment and Analysis of Hydraulic Assets for Sustainable and Resilient Flood Control Infrastructures; GIS (geographic information system)-based Decision Support Tool in Managing, Monitoring and Applying Intervention of Water Infrastructure for Smart Cities: Case for Cauayan City; and Smart Water Control Infrastructures for Effective Irrigation Management.
The SWIM, he said, would benefit the LGUs, NIA, graduate students, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the National Water Resources Board. (PNA)
