The Calbayog City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and Department of Agriculture – City Agriculture Office (DA), in collaboration with NwSSU-College of Agriculture and Technology, undertook a three-day GIS seminar-workshop titled “Introductory GIS in Agriculture, Climate Change Adaptation, and Disaster Risk Reduction Management, Site Specific for Calbayog City, Samar” on October 24-26, 2023, at Malajog Ridge Park, Brgy. Malajog, Calbayog City, Samar.
Mr. Wendell L. Ultra, the facilitator from NwSSU and one of the proud mentees of the late Dr. Alejandro F. Tongco, a Balik Scientist Fellow, shared his Geographic Information System (GIS) skills to help the said agencies make accurate and localized maps to prepare for precise decision-making involving geospatial data.
During the workshop, problems were found regarding the veracity of the existing data from various agencies on barangay borders and some hazard maps, which therefore prompted the agencies to focus on localization regarding the creation and generation of maps.
Various agencies came up with valuable outputs regarding landslide prone areas, storm surge prone areas, rice farmers GIS, and farmers and fisherfolks at risk with climate change.
The knowledge and skills that the participants gained in the workshop will help communities and could save lives, especially in hazardous areas where early warning signs should be indicated.