February 26, 2021: Asian Water Cycle Initiative (AWCI) Session for the 13th AOGEO Symposium by online
The Asian Water Cycle Initiative (AWCI) Session was convened online on February 26, 2021, as a sectional meeting of the 13th Asia-Oceania Group on Earth Observations (AOGEO) Symposium. The session opened with video messages from Dr. Basuki Hadimuljono, the minister of the Public Works and Housing in Indonesia, and Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., the undersecretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the Philippines, and opening remarks by Prof. HIROKI Kenzo of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies of Japan. Presentations followed, quickly reviewing past activities for AWCI, a new framework and strategy, the policy dialogue cooperated by ADBI and ICHARM, and country reports from Sri Lanka and the Philippines among the participating countries.
In response to the proposal to develop an Online Synthesis System (OSS) as a new implementation plan regarding Platforms on Water Resilience and Disasters, a project supported by IFI, Sri Lankan participants, the director generals of MD, ID, NBRO, and DMC, and the deputy director of the Water Resources Planning Division of the Mahaweli Authority expressed their intention to support the new plan and discussed its realization. From the participants of the Philippines, Dr. Anthony C. Sales, the regional director of DOST XI, delivered a presentation on the Davao River basin management and their detailed OSS development plan. Furthermore, PAGASA, DPWH, and UPLB explained, in an integrated manner, a series of activities in which they engaged when and after Typhoon Vamco (Typhoon Ulysses in the Philippines) hit and caused severe damage to the Luzon island last November.
The session gathered more than 60 participants and had fruitful discussions toward the input for the AOGEO Symposium statement. The discussion results in the AWCI session were conveyed to the 13th AOGEO Symposium, held online from March 3 to 5.
ADBI: Asian Development Bank Institute
IFI: International Flood Initiative
MD: Meteorological Department
ICHARM: International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management
ID: Irrigation Department
NBRO: National Building Research Organization
DMC: Disaster Management Center
PAGASA: Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
DPWH: Department of Public Works and Highways
UPLB: University of the Philippines Los Banos
[Agenda]
[Presentations]
1. Opening Remarks
- H.E. Dr. Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister for Public Works and Housing, Indonesia
- Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., Undersecretary, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Republic of Philippines
2. Coutry Reports on the Platforms on Water Resilience and Disasters
- Prof. Kenzo Hiroki, GRIPS
- Dr. Mamoru Miyamaoto, ICHARM
- Prof. Toshio Koike, ICHARM
- Ms. Poe Oo, ADBI
- Sri Lanka 1, Mr. Athula Karunanayake, Director General, Department of Meteorology
- Sri Lanka 2, Dr. Asiri Karunawardena, Director General, National Building Research Organization
- Sri Lanka 3, Irrigation Department, Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka 4, Maj. Gen (Retd.) Sudantha Ranasinghe, State Ministry of Internal Security, Home Affairs and Disaster Management
- Sri Lanka 5, Eng. S.P.B Illangasingha, Deputy Director, Water Resources Planning
- Philippines 1, Dr. Mamoru Miyamoto, ICHARM
- Philippines 2, Dr. Anthony C. Sales, CESO III, Regional Director, Department of Science and Technology XI Secretary, HELP Davao Network
- Philippines 3, Mr. Socrates Paat, Jr., Senior Hydrologist, PAGASA
- Philippines 4, Engr. Jerry A. Fano, OIC, Project Impact Analysis and Evaluation, DPWH
- Philippines 5, Prof. Patricia Ann J. Sanchez, School of Environmental Science and Management, UPLB
- TG1 Report to Plenary, Prof. Toshio Koike, ICHARM
*Link to the 13th AOGEO symposium
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